Lee County Sheriff's Office Investigations

08/18/2026

8/18/2026
Update: Francis Vancour has been safely located.

08/18/2026

Update:
8/18/2026 Mr. Vancour has been safely located.

🚨 MISSING PERSON: Family members and Lee County deputies are searching for 76-year-old Fran Vancour, who was last seen leaving his Lee Road 2004 home around 11:44 a.m. Monday.

His last known location was near Lee Road 235 and Lee Road 499. Family says he is on medications, has no ID or phone with him, and did not take water.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office Alabama at 911.

🔗➡️ https://cnaw2news.com/2026/08/17/76-year-old-smiths-station-man-reported-missing-search-underway/

08/11/2026

We have been contacted by individuals who are concerned about the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s stance on cooperating with federal agencies, specifically the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There has been misinformation circulating regarding this matter, and we would like to put it to rest.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has, and will continue to, cooperate with ICE in the arrest, detention, and transfer of individuals who are in violation of federal immigration law.

In 2025, our agency assisted with the transfer of 271 individuals to ICE custody. Through July 2026, our agency has detained 152 individuals for transfer to ICE. These numbers are available at leecosheriffal.gov/numbers, along with other key statistics regarding our agency’s operations.

We work with ICE and other federal agencies daily to do our part to uphold the law. We will always enforce the laws of the United States of America and the State of Alabama, working alongside our local, state, and federal partners.

Any information suggesting otherwise is blatantly untrue. We encourage members of our community to verify information regarding the operations and policies of any agency through reliable, official sources before accepting or sharing claims as fact.

08/07/2026

On August 7, 2026, Victoria Leigh White (54) of Opelika, Alabama was arrested and charged with Theft of Property 1st degree and Identity Theft.

08/05/2026

8/6/2026
Update: Zy'mya Shorter has been located

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Zy'mya Shorter, call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 334-749-5651.

08/04/2026

On July 31, 2026, a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy performed a traffic stop in the 200 block of Lee Road 600 in Smiths Station, AL, for an expired tag. When the deputy approached the driver-side door of the vehicle, the driver, Shaina Miller (32) of Phenix City, was holding a small wallet with a clear plastic cover containing what appeared to be an ID card. The driver pulled the ID card out and sat it on her lap. She then pulled out her driver’s license and handed that to the deputy. When asked what the ID card on her lap was, Miller responded with “CPD”. The deputy asked if she worked there and what she did, and Miller specified that she was a Police Officer.

Upon leaving the traffic stop, the deputy contacted a member of the Columbus Police Department (CPD) who advised that Miller was no longer employed at CPD. The deputy returned to the area of the original traffic stop, located Miller, and performed a second traffic stop. When he approached the vehicle, the deputy requested Miller’s police ID, which she turned over, and asked when she left CPD, to which she responded 2024. She admitted to having used the police ID to get out of tickets at traffic stops.

Miller has been charged with felony Impersonating a Peace Officer and was transported to the Lee County Detention Center with a bond of $3,000. She has since bonded out.

Sheriff Jay Jones stated, “The Lee County Sheriff's Office continues our vigilance in detecting and preventing any actions that undermine the men and women engaged in providing professional public service. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is an affront to law enforcement and the public and should never be tolerated.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).

08/03/2026

On July 11, 2026, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call involving a shooting that resulted in a Homicide, in the 800 block of Lee Road 197 in Phenix City. Lee County Investigators determined that Amber Holly Mott (40) was having an Open House Party and had allowed multiple people under the age of 21 to consume shots of liquor inside of her residence.

On July 28, 2026, Mott was arrested for “Open House Party” (Class B Misdemeanor) and placed in the Lee County Detention Center. She has since posted bail in the amount of $1000.00 and has been released.

More Charges are expected.

The circumstances that led to this arrest are clear. If an adult knowingly allows or provides an opportunity for underage individuals to consume alcohol, they are breaking the law. Adults should provide positive guidance for our young people to be successful in life; not put them at risk.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).

07/30/2026

On July 28, 2026, Markeeya De’Shaun Reese (20) of Auburn, Alabama was arrested and charged with Theft of Property 1st degree.

07/27/2026

On July 11, 2026, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call in the 800 block of Lee Road 197 in Lee County, AL, in reference to shots fired at an open house party where someone was struck. Upon arrival Deputies located a male subject laying in the yard with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest. Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and immediately transported the victim to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, GA, where he later succumbed to his injury. Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators responded and were able to obtain enough evidence that later led to an arrest warrant for Raymond Drew Earl (18) from Phenix City.

On July 27, 2026, Lee County Investigators, the Lee County SWAT Team and members of the United States Marshal Service (Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force) conducted a search warrant in the 300 Block of Lee Road 706 in the Beauregard community of Lee County, where Earl was taken into custody. He was charged with Murder and will be held in the Lee County Detention Center without bail, awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).

07/22/2026

On July 22, 2026, Nathan Caleb Hollingsworth (39) of Opelika, Alabama was arrested and charged with Sexual Extortion.