Grand Jury Indicts Suspect in July Double Murder Of Pickens County Couple

A grand jury in Pickens County has indicted the alleged killer reportedly responsible for the July deaths of a couple living not far from the city of Reform.

George Birmingham, who was arrested shortly after the killings, now formally faces capital murder charges for the deaths of 43-year-old Justin Elrod and 42-year-old Lena Elrod.

According to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement responded to the scene of a burglary on County Road 49 around 12:15 a.m.in mid July. There, deputies discovered a suspect who they identified as Birmingham at the scene and took him into custody in connection with the burglary.

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Family members of the Elrods had asked law enforcement to conduct a welfare check at the couple’s home in Reform after being unable to reach them.

During the July 18th welfare check, officers found the couple's bodies. Evidence at the scene indicated foul play and suggested the couple had been dead for several days.

Eventually, investigators connected Birmingham to the scene of the double homicide at the home on Langdon Woods Road. Forensics determined the murders happened sometime before the burglary.

Court records allege the 45-year-old Birmingham used some sort of metallic object to stab or hit Justin Elrod over the head. Then allegedly used an electric saw to kill his wife, Lena.

At that time, Birmingham was formally charged with capital murder, two counts of murder, burglary in the second degree, possession of a controlled substance (identified as psilocybin), possession of marijuana, and resisting arrest.

Justin Elrod was an employee at the Women's Federal Correctional Institution in Aliceville. He was also a military combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Birmingham has been denied bond. No trial date has been set.