Three Indicted in Abduction, Torture, and Killing of Birmingham Man

Three individuals have been indicted for the brutal death of a 43-year-old man who was stripped, bound, tortured, and then fatally shot outside an east Birmingham home just days before Christmas 2023.

A Jefferson County grand jury on July 19 issued the indictments against Dustin Harry Stanfield, 43, of Hoover; Joshua Corey Guthrie, 33, of Fairfield; and Brittany Patterson, 34, of northern Jefferson County. These indictments were made public this week.

The trio faces charges of capital murder in the death of David Nicholas. Nicholas's girlfriend was also stripped, beaten, and held captive for approximately 12 hours after witnessing Nicholas's murder.

Nicholas’s girlfriend, who was previously in a relationship with Stanfield, was rescued by police in the parking lot of a Walmart in Leeds. The accused are also charged with kidnapping in connection to her abduction.

All three suspects are currently held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

Earlier this year, the trio appeared before a judge for a preliminary hearing. Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen is leading the prosecution. The defense attorneys are Bret Gray for Stanfield, Chris Daniel for Guthrie, and Jeffery Dummier for Patterson.

Birmingham police homicide detective Nicholas Clark, the sole witness in the hearing, described the harrowing events that unfolded like a scene from a crime thriller.

On December 23, at 11:58 p.m., a resident of Lake Lane N.E. reported to Birmingham 911 hearing multiple gunshots and discovering a man with bound hands seeking help in her carport. The caller attempted but failed to remove the restraints from the man, who was later identified as David Nicholas.

The dying Nicholas managed to speak with his estranged wife over the phone, confirming that “Dustin” had shot him and had taken his girlfriend. Nicholas was pronounced dead at 12:53 a.m., with bindings of black tape and straps.

Clark detailed the events leading to the shooting. Nicholas and his girlfriend had been staying at a house next to the caller's residence. Upon returning from a store trip, Patterson reportedly told the house occupants, “We have a surprise for you inside.”

Stanfield entered the bedroom where Nicholas’s girlfriend was sleeping and brandished a gun. Another occupant was forced by Patterson to strip and was then bound, while a fourth person was also restrained.

Witnesses reported hearing a commotion from the bedroom before Stanfield emerged with the naked girlfriend, covered in a red cleaning chemical. Stanfield forced Nicholas to kneel and bite a filing cabinet, ordering Patterson to kick Nicholas and stab him. Patterson complied, and Nicholas screamed in pain.

The suspects then led Nicholas and his girlfriend outside to a car. When Nicholas resisted being placed in the trunk, Stanfield shot him multiple times. Nicholas was hit three times, and an autopsy revealed additional cuts and bruises.

As the suspects attempted to put the other restrained individuals in the car, they managed to escape during the chaos caused by the gunfire.

Nicholas’s girlfriend was taken to Patterson’s residence, where Stanfield and Guthrie were also present. She was forced to shower but couldn't due to the chemical burns. Despite her condition, Stanfield tried to feed her and urged her to shower again.

Hoover police received a license plate alert the following morning, leading Leeds police to the suspects' vehicle at Walmart. Guthrie was arrested, and Nicholas’s girlfriend was found unclothed but wearing an Amazon jacket. Officers provided her with clothes from the store.

Stanfield, who likely fled upon police arrival, was apprehended the next day. Patterson was arrested a week later in Woodlawn.

The investigation is ongoing, and the defendants remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.