Parole denied for man convicted in 2007 of murder

Cole

Lorenzo Lee Cole, who in 2007 was convicted of murdering his wife Dava Pettus Gray, was denied parole Thursday.

According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, Cole has been housed at the Camden Community Work Center. He was sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty for the 2005 murder of 33-year-old Gray. He has served nearly 16 years of that sentence.

According to news reports at the time, Pettis was found shot to death inside her Twickenham Village apartment. Cole and Gray’s relationship had been marred by a pattern of domestic violence. A few months before her murder, Gray reportedly filed a protection order against Cole.

Their marriage produced two children, ages 3 and 4 at the time, who reportedly witnessed the gruesome event.