Deundray Cottrell, Atlanta PhD student found dead in Birmingham, was killed, police say

The death of an Atlanta doctoral student found Saturday in Birmingham, two days after he disappeared from a family holiday gathering, has been ruled a homicide by the Jefferson County coroner/medical examiner’s office.

Birmingham police announced their decision Sunday. Authorities did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the death of Deundray Cottrell, 31.

The search continues for Julian Taylor Morris, 31, who authorities and family say was romantically involved with Cottrell. Fitzgerald called Morris a person of interest.

Morris has not been seen since Friday morning.

Cottrell was last seen around 10 p.m. Thursday in the 7000 block of Fourth Avenue South.

Her sister, Angelica Harris, said Cottrell and Morris arrived in Birmingham around 6pm on Thursday to celebrate the holiday. It was the first time her brother had seen the new home she shares with her husband and children.

Cottrell lived in Atlanta, where he worked in marketing and was working on his doctorate.

Around 10 p.m., Cottrell said he went upstairs to check on his dog because of the fireworks.

“He went to see the dog and I never saw him again,” Harris said.

Morris was also in the house and told his family that they had a conversation and the Cottrells left and ran into the backyard.

Family members found Cottrell’s sunglasses, cell phone and one of his shoes when they began searching for him. According to the family, Morris was acting erratically and not like they had known him for three years. The family immediately began searching and eventually called police to file a missing person report.

Harris said they later learned he had not actually been registered as missing in the system until Friday morning.

Cottrell’s family searched for him throughout the day and into the night Friday, but to no avail. They found footage from Ring cameras at several homes showing Cottrell running through yards and even jumping a fence.

“It looked like he was looking for shelter,” Harris said. “He was running for his life.”

Morris may have disappeared Friday. Cottrell’s family saw Morris Friday morning, but did not see him again afterward.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald also said Friday that officers from the East Precinct began searching the area where Cottrell was last seen. They recovered some of his clothing and a community member provided officers with surveillance footage of Cottrell walking in the area.

On Saturday, the family launched a new search, as did Birmingham police.

“He’s a very well-liked, well-known person with a good heart, and a lot of people are hurting by his passing,” Harris said before Cottrell was found dead. “What’s happening makes no sense.”

Shortly before 3 p.m., police found Cottrell dead in or near an abandoned house, and his family was notified.

Morris was the last person to see Cottrell alive, Fitzgerald said. He is described as a black man, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds.

Cottrell’s is the 81st homicide in Birmingham this year. Of those, eight were deemed justifiable and therefore not considered criminal.

Across Jefferson County, there were 104 homicides, including 81 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-7777 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.