HPD asks for help in Green Cove Road homicide investigation

HUNTSVILLE — The Huntsville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a homicide victim’s stolen car and identifying two persons of interest in the case.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Tiffany Dawn Kelley. According to HPD, Kelley’s body was found stabbed to death on Green Cove Road in southeast Huntsville near her residential area the night of Sept. 22. A citizen driving by noticed the body and called 911, stating that it was possibly a pedestrian struck. HEMSI and police officers were dispatched to the scene where Kelley had already succumbed to her injuries. Police found no debris indicative of an accident.

After several hours of investigating video surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses, HPD classified the case as a homicide investigation, according to Capt. Mike Izzo, commander of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Sgt. Jack Pugh, supervisor of HPD’s major crimes unit, said Kelley was last seen alive at a nearby Dollar General store on the east side of Memorial Parkway around 7:15-8 p.m. Although she went to the store alone, Kelley was seen on video surveillance speaking to two people sitting on a curb outside the store. One person was wearing a red shirt, and the other was wearing a dark-colored shirt, Pugh said.

“If anyone saw anything or you were just there, give us a call, and we’d like to talk to you,” Pugh said.

According to Pugh, it is unclear if Kelley knew the two people she spoke to at the Dollar General. It is also unclear whether the two people got into the car with Kelley. He said that based on some of the evidence HPD is looking at, they are “pretty sure that [the homicide] occurred right there in the turn lane” outside Kelley’s residential area. Pugh also said HPD is “pretty sure [the perpetrators] were in the vehicle.”

Kelley’s car was not at the scene and is currently reported stolen. Police are asking the public’s help in locating the 2006 Nissan Sentra, either silver or light gold. The car has an Alabama license plate with tag 47YC784. The vehicle was last seen heading east on Green Cove Road.

Police say the victim’s vehicle looks like this 2006 Nissan Sentra. It may have been either silver or light gold.

Though the perpetrators could still be driving the car, Pugh also noted that it had been having problems earlier in the day and could have broken down somewhere since the incident. Anyone who locates the vehicle should not touch the vehicle, as it is considered part of a crime scene. “Just contact us,” Pugh said.

Sgt. Tony McElyea said anyone with information should contact HPD’s CID at 256-427-7270, call Crime Stoppers at 256-53-CRIME or go to 53crime.com. Callers may remain anonymous if they wish.

This is Huntsville’s 26th criminal homicide this year. Five of those homicides occurred this past week alone. Izzo said homicides are “unpredictable,” and this year’s number is still far below the average count of homicides in other large Alabama cities like Montgomery and Birmingham.