Alabama Man Accused of Killing Grandmother and Aunt With Chainsaw Makes Disturbing Remark in Court

An Alabama man accused of killing his grandmother and aunt was removed from a courtroom after making a disturbing two-word remark during an initial court appearance, according to reports.

Thomas Henry Steele, 47, of Mobile, faces two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of his grandmother, Dora Boone, 85, and his aunt, Christy Deloach, 65. Police discovered the two women dead inside a home on October 12, 2026, after responding to a call about a death investigation.

According to PEOPLE, officers alleged that Steele used a bladed instrument to kill the two women. Court documents cited in news reports identified the weapon as a chainsaw.

The case took another unsettling turn during a court hearing on October 13. After a judge appointed a public defender to represent him, Steele reportedly said, “Kill him.” He was subsequently removed from the courtroom and returned to jail, where he is being held without bond.

Authorities had received a concerned relative’s call earlier that day. The caller reportedly said Steele was behaving unusually, giving away his phone and car, and making statements about abandoning electronics to live for God. The relative also expressed concern that he might not be taking his prescribed lithium medication.

Following the hearing, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the allegations described in the complaint reflected the serious nature of the case. He also confirmed that a judge had ordered a mental competency evaluation through the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

The evaluation is intended to help determine whether Steele is mentally competent to proceed with court proceedings. His public defender had not publicly commented on the allegations in PEOPLE’s report.

The investigation and legal process are ongoing. Steele has been charged but has not been convicted, and the allegations against him must be established in court.

Source: PEOPLE