'Currently grieving': Attorneys representing person of interest in death of man found in shed release statement

BRITTANY JASON, THANKS. WE’RE HEARING FROM AN ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF A PERSON OF INTEREST IN A RECENT HOMICIDE IN BIRMINGHAM. POLICE SAY THAT THEY WANT TO TALK TO JULIAN MORRIS REGARDING THE DEATH OF DEANDRE COTTRELL. IT WAS ORIGINALLY A MISSING PERSONS CASE. HIS BODY LATER FOUND IN A SHED BEHIND AN ABANDONED HOME. POLICE CALLING JULIAN MORRIS A PERSON OF INTEREST. HE WAS THE LAST PERSON WHO SAW HIM ALIVE. IN A STATEMENT THIS AFTERNOON, AN ATTORNEY FOR MORRIS SAID IN PART MR. MORRIS WANTS ANSWERS AS WELL AND IS AWAITING THOSE ANSWERS. AFTER A FULL AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, HE WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY FURTHER STATEMENTS AT THIS TIME. IN RESPONSE, BIRMINGHAM POLICE SAY IN PART SINCE DEANDRE COTTRELL’S BODY WAS DISCOVERED, JULIAN MORRIS, HIS FAMILY AND LEGAL COUNSEL HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH BPD DETECTIVES. BPD RESPECT

The attorneys representing a person of interest in the death of an Atlanta man found in a shed released a statement Wednesday.The statement reiterated the fact that Julian Morris "is a college-educated veteran" with "no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions," according to his attorney. Birmingham police said Morris spoke with them before the body was found, but not since. Police said they respect his wish to not provide a statement.Morris loved the man who went missing and was found dead, Deundray Cottrell, the statement said."Despite the false narratives that are being promulgated about him in this situation, he loved Deundray Cottrell and is currently grieving the death of his loved one," the statement read.Cottrell, a marketing PhD student, vanished following the Fourth of July fireworks at sister Angelica's home.Morris told the family Cottrell simply ran off.“The entire time that we were searching. He was in my mom's house, talking to my mom, trying to explain,” Angelica Cottrell said.Angelica Cottrell said they searched for her brother all night, using doorbell camera videos to track his path.Then, she remembers Morris telling her on the phone he had put her brother in a house.“I was like, hey, he's in a house. Like he's in a house. Dude just told me calm, cool, and collected that he's in a house. We got to go look in houses,” Angelica Cottrell said.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Ultimately, Deundray Cottrell's shoe was found behind a shed two blocks away, where detectives uncovered his body inside on Saturday.Tim Cottrell had to identify his big brother to police at the scene.“I took on that challenge, knowing that my sister and my mom probably wouldn't be able to accept it. And I'm okay with it,” Tim Cottrell said.Police have named Morris a person of interest in Deundray Cottrell's murder.“That's hurtful, too, because, like, my mom was there, staring her son's killer in the eye,” Tim Cottrell said.>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for freeMorris has not been charged in the case, but the family hopes that they receive justice and that their brother's legacy of love lives on.“My hope is that nobody that ever experienced the love that 'D' generated never forgets it,” Angelica Cottrell said.Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to Morris’ arrest.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

The attorneys representing a person of interest in the death of an Atlanta man found in a shed released a statement Wednesday.

The statement reiterated the fact that Julian Morris "is a college-educated veteran" with "no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions," according to his attorney.

Birmingham police said Morris spoke with them before the body was found, but not since. Police said they respect his wish to not provide a statement.

Morris loved the man who went missing and was found dead, Deundray Cottrell, the statement said.

"Despite the false narratives that are being promulgated about him in this situation, he loved Deundray Cottrell and is currently grieving the death of his loved one," the statement read.

Cottrell, a marketing PhD student, vanished following the Fourth of July fireworks at sister Angelica's home.

Morris told the family Cottrell simply ran off.

“The entire time that we were searching. He was in my mom's house, talking to my mom, trying to explain,” Angelica Cottrell said.

Angelica Cottrell said they searched for her brother all night, using doorbell camera videos to track his path.

Then, she remembers Morris telling her on the phone he had put her brother in a house.

“I was like, hey, he's in a house. Like he's in a house. Dude just told me calm, cool, and collected that he's in a house. We got to go look in houses,” Angelica Cottrell said.

>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Ultimately, Deundray Cottrell's shoe was found behind a shed two blocks away, where detectives uncovered his body inside on Saturday.

Tim Cottrell had to identify his big brother to police at the scene.

“I took on that challenge, knowing that my sister and my mom probably wouldn't be able to accept it. And I'm okay with it,” Tim Cottrell said.

Police have named Morris a person of interest in Deundray Cottrell's murder.

“That's hurtful, too, because, like, my mom was there, staring her son's killer in the eye,” Tim Cottrell said.

>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free

Morris has not been charged in the case, but the family hopes that they receive justice and that their brother's legacy of love lives on.

“My hope is that nobody that ever experienced the love that 'D' generated never forgets it,” Angelica Cottrell said.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to Morris’ arrest.

'Currently grieving': Attorneys representing person of interest in death of man found in shed release statement

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