Man Accused of Killing Grandmother and Aunt With Chainsaw Ordered Into Emergency Mental Health Treatment

ALABAMA — A judge has ordered a 47-year-old man accused of killing two elderly family members to undergo emergency inpatient mental health treatment and an evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.

Thomas Henry Steele faces two counts of capital murder following the deaths of his grandmother, Dora Boone, 85, and his aunt, Christy DeLoach, 65, in Mobile, Alabama.

Two Women Found Dead Inside Family Home

On October 12, 2026, Mobile police responded to a residence on Carolina Court at approximately 1:36 p.m.

Officers discovered the two women dead inside the property and detained Steele at the scene.

According to charging documents, investigators allege that Steele used a chainsaw during the killings.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder.

A Concerning Emergency Call Before the Discovery

Local media obtained information about a 911 call made earlier that day by a woman concerned about Steele’s unusual behavior.

The caller reportedly explained that he had been acting irrationally and that she was attempting to find appropriate assistance.

During the conversation, she indicated that Steele was calm and had not been acting violently at that time.

The exact sequence of events between the emergency call and the discovery of the victims has not been fully established in public reporting.

Disturbing Moment During Court Appearance

Steele appeared in court on October 13 for an initial hearing.

When the judge appointed a public defender to represent him, Steele made a disturbing verbal remark and was subsequently removed from the courtroom.

The judge denied bond and initially ordered a mental competency evaluation.

Judge Orders Emergency Inpatient Treatment

On October 16, Circuit Judge S. Wesley Pipes issued a new order after determining that Steele’s mental condition had deteriorated.

The judge concluded that an outpatient assessment was no longer sufficient.

Steele was ordered into the custody of the Alabama Department of Mental Health for emergency treatment and an inpatient evaluation of his competency to stand trial.

The order requires his transfer no later than October 20.

Family and Community Mourn Two Lives Lost

Friends and colleagues have remembered DeLoach as a caring woman who worked for many years at Mr. Sam’s Hair Fashion in Mobile.

Her coworkers described the loss as devastating and paid tribute to the kindness she showed others.

Meanwhile, the criminal proceedings against Steele remain ongoing. He has not been convicted, and a mental competency evaluation does not itself determine criminal responsibility.

Sources: FOX10 News, October 16, 2026; NBC15; Mobile Police Department.