The official record and sworn testimony confirm that Jarius McNeil confessed to killing Brandon Hastings, acted alone, and was sentenced to life in prison for that crime. His own words detailed how the murder occurred, how he disposed of the body, and how he profited from the victim’s belongings. To avoid the death penalty, McNeil accepted a plea deal that required him to implicate someone else. In exchange for his cooperation, he received a lighter sentence than Murray Lawrence Jr., the innocent man he falsely accused.

McNeil’s confession was not speculation. It was corroborated by physical evidence, forensic findings, and verified court documents, including the Alabama Judicial Data Center Transcript of Record, which lists his felony murder conviction and life sentence handed down by Judge Robert Wilters on June 16, 2005. The prosecution, led by District Attorney David Whetstone, reduced McNeil’s capital murder charge to felony murder in exchange for his cooperation, a deal the DA himself described in court as “a deal with the devil.”

Despite this, the state continued to pursue Murray Lawrence Jr., relying on McNeil’s coached and inconsistent testimony to convict an innocent man. The trial record makes clear that McNeil, not Murray, controlled the vehicle, handled the body, and personally disposed of it in Mississippi.

Key Evidence from the Trial and Confession

1. Timeline, Testimony, and Evidence Show Jarius Was the Only One With Brandon

• “Was last seen with Brandon shortly before Brandon was killed.”

• “Had control of Brandon’s car and body.”

• “Jarius gets behind Brandon and he places it around his neck and he chokes him… Brandon is down on the ground and he is dying… Jarius says, ‘I've got to get this body out of here.’ He grabs him by the wrist and drags him… puts the body into the trunk of the car.”

• “Personally dumped Brandon’s body across state lines.”

• “Drive over to Gautier, Mississippi. Just randomly pick an exit, drive up, dump the body on the ground and leave.”

• Dumped the body in a place only he knew. The body was left in Gautier, Mississippi, a spot within McNeil’s own territory where he regularly bought and sold drugs. Murray Lawrence Jr. had no connection to this area. Brandon Hastings was from Baldwin County, Alabama, and had no ties to Mississippi. The location alone shows McNeil was in full control, transporting the victim’s body across state lines to a place only he would know how to reach.

• “Sold or distributed Brandon’s belongings.”

• “On the 6th, guess who was out selling the parts off of the car? Jarius McNeil. The car had been stripped of the tires and the stereo. Guess who stripped it? Jarius McNeil.”

• “Had motive, money for drugs, reactivating his phone, and paying rent.”

2. He Was the Only One Indicted for Murder Initially

• “Jarius is now in jail… During this time period, Jarius gets indicted for capital murder… the deal that the D.A. himself has said is a deal with a devil… They agree to give him life. That’s the deal that he gets for telling this story.”

3. Under Oath, He Admitted to Lying Repeatedly

• “He was testifying about the gun being loaded at one time and the gun not being loaded and I asked him, Which one is true? He said both of them were true.”

• “You cannot believe Jarius McNeil. Because Jarius McNeil will say whatever he has to say… Because he’s got to tell the truth. You know what? If he don’t tell the truth, he gonna lose his deal.”

4. Prosecutor Whetstone Called It “a Deal with the Devil”

• “That’s the deal the D.A. himself has said is a deal with a devil.”

Trial Record Confirms the Truth

• Was last seen with Brandon
• Committed the act of murder
• Dragged the body and disposed of it
• Dumped the body in his own territory, far from Murray’s or Brandon’s home
• Sold off Brandon’s property
• Lied under oath and changed his story under threat of losing his plea deal
• Received a reduced sentence in exchange for implicating someone else

Conclusion

The evidence is consistent from start to finish. Jarius McNeil confessed, pled guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison for killing Brandon Hastings. The state reduced his charge, relied on his false testimony, and used it to convict an innocent man.

The record shows one truth. Jarius McNeil was the confessed killer, and he acted alone.

View Full Record: Alabama Judicial Data Center Transcript of Record