Jacqueline “Jackie” Denise Bunnell
Birth: December 18, 1960
Death: October 13, 2020
Obituary
Jacqueline “Jackie” Denise Bunnell Memorial services for Mrs. Jacqueline “Jackie” Denise Bunnell, 52, of Clayton, Alabama will be held Friday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. at Kent Funeral Home Chapel in Eufaula. The Rev. Ron Jackson will officiate. Visitation will be held from 2-3 p.m. prior to services at Kent Funeral Home in Eufaula.
Mrs. Bunnell tragically lost her life at her home in Clayton, Sunday, Oct. 13. Born December 18, 1960 in Eufaula,
Jacqueline “Jackie” Denise Bunnell was the daughter of the late AJ “Jack” Jordan and the late Betty Sewell Jordan. After her biological mother passed away when Jackie was 11 years old, she raised by her father and step-mother, Mary Jordan. Jackie was a lifelong resident of the Barbour County area and a member of Pleasant Plains Baptist Church in Clayton. She was the first female member of the Clayton Lions Club. She enjoyed crocheting and was known as a hard working lady. She loved her grandchildren deeply and always enjoyed spending time with them and her family. Her sweet disposition touched the lives of everyone she met. She was a friend to so many and her passing has left a community heartbroken and mourning the tragic passing of their friend and loved one.
She is preceded in death by her father, AJ “Jack” Jordan; biological mother, Betty Sewell Jordan, husband, Gene Bunnell; and brother, Jerry Jordan.
Survivors include her mother, Mary Jordan of Eufaula; son, Todd Jordan of Clayton; daughter and son-in-law, Hillary and Tony Franks of Dothan; brothers, Ricky Jordan, Bo Jordan, and Alex (Lori) Jordan all of Eufaula; sister, Beth Retherford of Dothan; and grandsons, Damien and Kaegan Franks of Dothan.
Criminal Details
Eufaula Tribune
Anastasia Scarborough -October 15, 2013
Barbour County Sheriff’s Department investigates second murder in less than a week
The Barbour County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a second murder in less than a week.
The Barbour County Sheriff’s Department responded to a house fire at 3114 Highway 30 around 10:30 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 13). The body of Jacquelin “Jackie” Bunnell, 53, was discovered inside. She had been shot by a handgun, Barbour County Sheriff LeRoy Upshaw reported, but he is uncertain if she died by the gunshot wound or the fire as an autopsy is pending.
The vehicle of the suspect in the case, Bunnell’s stepson Noah Bunnell, 24, was later found abandoned on Highway 51 in Bullock County. Bunnell was found and placed under arrest by Phenix City Police Monday (Oct. 14).
“Bunnell confessed to shooting his stepmother and setting the house (on Highway 30) on fire,” said Upshaw. “As far as we can tell, this is a domestic type situation. The stepson was upset that his daddy had married (his stepmother) and left her everything. He confessed to carrying a handgun into her residence and an argument ensued.”
Bunnell is currently being held in the Barbour County Jail. Upshaw stated Bunnell was arrested without incident.
“He has been charged with capital murder, arson and burglary,” said Upshaw. “I’d like to thank the (Alabama State) Fire Marshall, Barbour County District Attorney’s Office, Russell County Sheriff’s Department, Bullock County Sheriff’s Department, Phenix City Police Department and my deputies for their assistance in this case.”
Elizabeth Sanders, 71, was murdered Friday, Oct. 11, on Farmer Road in the Springhill community northwest of Eufaula. Arrests have yet to made in connection with Sanders’ death.
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Criminal Details
Eufaula Tribune
Penny Carter – Press Release: July 22, 2015
Bunnell pleads guilty to murder
A murderer has been brought to justice in the eyes of one family with ties to Barbour County.
Noah Bunnell, 26, of Clayton, received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, July 9, in the Barbour County courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Burt Smithart. A plea bargain was accepted by Bunnell on Tuesday, July 7, on the advice of his defense team of Jennifer Tompkins and Trey Green. Bunnell’s hearing was held at the Eufaula Courthouse Tuesday, but the information could not be released until after sentencing was carried out on Thursday due to a gag order that was in place on the case.
“I am very pleased with the outcome of this case,” Barbour County District Attorney Ben Reeves commented in a press release sent out on Friday. “Justice was served for Jacquelin Bunnell’s family; especially her mother, daughter and son. And that is what we strive for…justice for the victim and their family.”
Bunnell plead guilty to the charge of capital murder arson in the slaying of his stepmother, Jacqueline “Jackie” Bunnell, during a robbery committed on Oct. 13, 2013. He also pled guilty to setting the house on fire to hide the crime.
“This family asked me a month ago to offer Noah Bunnell the chance to plead guilty to life in the penitentiary without the possibility of parole instead of going to trial where we would have been seeking the death penalty,” the District Attorney said.
On the night of Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, Clayton Volunteer Fire Department, members of the Clayton Police Department, Clayton Rescue and deputies with the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Highway 30 address of Mrs. Bunnell after her son, Todd Jordan, made a 911 call to report the house fire when he returned home from work late that night. He identified his mother’s vehicle parked in front of the home to responding emergency personnel, leading rescuers to believe she was still inside the structure.
Mrs. Bunnell’s remains were found the day after the fire as firefighters, who had fought the structure fire most of the night, searched through the burnt home to ensure all hot spots were contained or extinguished. Also found in the home were the bodies of three dogs that had been trapped in the house.
Bunnell is believed to have gotten into an argument with his stepmother over personal property that had belonged to his deceased father. After killing her, Bunnell then broke into a safe that contained guns and family documents. He set fire to the house with the fire originating from one of the bedrooms of the residence.
He was picked up in Russell County by the Russell County authorities on Monday, Oct. 14, after a BOLO was issued by the BCSO. He proceeded to confess to the murder of his stepmother to law enforcement authorities in Russell County while in their custody. After his arrest, Bunnell was transferred to the Barbour County Jail where he had been held without bond since Oct. 14, 2013.
“We had a strong case against the defendant and I believe he made the right decision to take the offer of life without parole,” Reeves said. “In my opinion, the evidence would have justified a death sentence.”
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