Attorney General Marshall’s Statement on the Execution of Convicted Double-Murderer Jeffery Lee

For Immediate Release:
September 17, 2026

For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230

(Montgomery, Ala) – Attorney General Steve Marshall tonight issued a statement following the execution of Jeffery Lee by lethal injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore:

“Twenty-seven years ago, Jimmy Ellis’s and Elaine Thompson’s lives were stolen. They were victims of a senseless, violent robbery-murder. Justice was finally served.

The case against Jeffery Lee was overwhelming and unambiguous. Surveillance footage captured him firing shots. Eyewitnesses confirmed what the camera recorded. And in his own admission, he signed a confession. Court after court, appeal after appeal, the record spoke with one voice and the verdict held strong.

Over time, it can be easy to look at these convicted murderers as old men rather than the dangerous killers they were when they stole the lives of their victims and terrorized their communities. Those victims are the people I keep in mind.

Nothing can give back what was taken from Jimmy and Elaine and their families, but today we proved that every innocent life is worth fighting for, no matter how long it takes.”

Attorney General Marshall cleared the execution to commence at 6:08 p.m. 

Jeffery Lee’s time of death was 6:22 p.m. 

Legal Summary: State of Alabama v. Jeffery Lee

On December 12, 1998, after a night of binge drinking, smoking marijuana, and using cocaine, Jeffery Lee walked into Jimmy’s Pawn Shop in Orrville, Alabama, claiming he wanted to purchase a ring for his girlfriend. Lee asked one of the employees, Helen King, about the wedding rings in the jewelry display case, and admitted he didn’t have any money. However, he would come back when he got money from his grandmother. After purchasing a pint of liquor, he left the pawn shop. Lee, his brother, and their cousin drove down the street and parked, where Lee drank the liquor and smoked marijuana laced with cocaine.