Birmingham man arrested for alleged murder of boyfriend

Julian Taylor Morris, 33, has been arrested in connection with the death of 31-year-old Deundray Cottrell. U.S. Marshals took Morris into custody in Miami, Florida, on Monday, September 14, as he was preparing to board a cruise.

Cottrell, a dancer from Atlanta, Georgia, was reported missing on July 4, 2024, while visiting Birmingham, Alabama. His body was discovered two days later in a cluttered shed with an electrical cord around his neck. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Cottrell running through backyards and jumping a fence during the time of his disappearance.

Birmingham Police Department Chief Michael Pickett stated that the arrest demonstrates the department’s dedication to pursuing violent crime and seeking justice for the victim’s family.