James Largin was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for the murder of his parents
According to court documents James Largin would go to his parents home where he would fatally shoot his mother and father: Jimmy, 68, and Peggy, 56 before robbing their home and taking their credit cards
James Largin would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
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James Largin is incarcerated at Holman Prison
James Largin Case
The evidence presented at trial tended to show the following. Peggy and Jimmy Largin were at home on the night of March 15, 2007, when they were shot multiple times with a .22 caliber rifle and their bodies were thrown down the stairs leading to the cellar in their home. Autopsy results showed that both victims died as the result of close-range gunshot wounds to the head.
Sheri Largin Lake, James Largin’s sister and Jimmy and Peggy’s daughter, testified that she went to her parents’ house sometime after 9:00 p.m. on March 15, 2007, and her parents and her brother were there. Largin had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and he had recently been told to leave a residential treatment center for failing to follow the rules. Jimmy had picked Largin up from the treatment center and had brought him to the Largin residence. Largin had been living with his parents for approximately one week. Sheri testified that her mother had not wanted Largin to stay in the house because he previously had stolen money and property from them.
Sheri was unable to make telephone contact with her parents on March 16, 2007, which was unusual. She drove to their house that evening and found the house dark and the front door locked, which was also unusual. Sheri entered the house, called out to her parents, and walked to her mother’s room, where she saw blood on the floor. She left the house and called emergency 911.
The Largins had been in their bedrooms when they were shot with a .22 caliber rifle, and their bodies had been dragged through the house and thrown down the basement stairs. A mop with blood on the handle was found in the kitchen sink. Forensic analysis revealed that DNA on the mop handle was consistent with a mixture of Peggy’s DNA and Largin’s DNA. Officers observed swirl marks on the kitchen floor that indicated that someone had attempted to clean something up with a mop. Largin’s fingerprints were found on several containers of cleaning products recovered near the kitchen sink.
Sheri testified that her brother was not at the house when she arrived that night and that her deceased sister’s Trans Am automobile, which was kept on the Largins’ property, was missing. Several items had been stolen from the house, including credit cards belonging to Jimmy and Peggy, a rifle, and Peggy’s floral makeup bag in which she kept her set of keys and a substantial amount of cash.
Testimony further established that Largin drove the Trans Am to a friend’s house between midnight and 1:00 a.m. on the night of the murders. Largin purchased crack cocaine several times during the next 24 hours and smoked it with some of his acquaintances. Those acquaintances testified that Largin drove the Trans Am on several outings during that time, that he was in possession of the floral pouch that was identified as belonging to Peggy, and that he seemed to have a large amount of money. When Largin ran out of cash to purchase drugs, he began using his parents’ credit cards. Several purchases were verified by receipts and surveillance videos. Largin purchased some items from a Walmart discount store and traded them for more drugs.
Law-enforcement officers were notified of the issuance of a “BOLO”—be on the lookout—for the Trans Am. Officers located the car parked at an apartment complex. Soon after the car was located, Largin and a companion came out of one of the apartments and walked toward the car. They had intended to travel to another location to purchase more crack cocaine. Officers took Largin into custody.
Investigator Simon Miller had been a friend of Jimmy’s for several years, and both he and Jimmy were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He also knew Peggy and had been introduced to Largin and Sheri. Miller had chatted with Largin on more than one occasion before the murders. Miller spoke with Largin at the police department after he was arrested, and Largin told Miller, “It wasn’t murder ․ not in a cold-blooded sense.” (C. 836.) Largin further stated that he started to clean up the crime scene but then decided not to, and that he did not “try to hide it.” (C. 838.)
Several inmates with whom Largin had been incarcerated testified that they heard Largin admit that he had killed his parents. Largin also said that his parents were where they were supposed to be and that, if it were necessary, he would do it again.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1721280.html
