70-year-old woman died after her 18-year-old meth-addicted granddaughter neighbors warned would “kill her one day” beat her to death with a woodworking tool; granddaughter charged
Alabama – In a disturbing case in Alabama, an 18-year-old woman, identified as J. Lupton, has been charged after her 70-year-old grandmother, identified as D. Trest, was found brutally beaten to death in her front yard, the killing carried out with a woodworking tool in what neighbors say was a tragedy long feared.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that Lupton has been charged with murder and second-degree burglary following the killing of Trest. Deputies say the young woman not only took her grandmother’s life but then broke into a neighbor’s home in a chaotic and violent aftermath. Sheriff P. Burch later said investigators found signs of drug use at the crime scene, suggesting methamphetamine may have played a role in Lupton’s actions.
Deputies responded to a call just after 11 a.m. on August 2. When officers arrived, they found Trest lying in her yard, unresponsive with severe head trauma. Investigators believe Lupton and her grandmother had been arguing before the killing. Witnesses later said Lupton appeared frantic, telling them she believed someone was chasing her, though no one was there. Sheriff Burch noted such paranoia is a hallmark symptom of methamphetamine use.
Neighbor C. Edwards recounted to local media that her home security cameras captured the shocking moment Lupton arrived at her porch shortly after the attack. “She’s coming up the porch,” Edwards recalled. When she confronted her, Lupton chillingly admitted: “I just killed my grandma.” Edwards described shoving the teen off the porch after a struggle and even striking her with a mop to keep her out. Despite being forced back, the teen returned moments later, pleading, “Help me… Help!” before attempting to break in. Edwards said the screen door was forced open and she could hear screaming as the confrontation escalated.
Edwards and other neighbors revealed that Trest’s home had long been a source of concern. Police had reportedly been called there multiple times over the years. Edwards told reporters that she and others often warned Trest about the dangers she faced from within her own household. “We kept telling her, ‘they’re gonna kill you one day,’” Edwards said. She recalled conversations where Trest appeared with bruises and cuts, often blaming them on her dogs. “That’s not from the dogs,” Edwards remembered telling her.
Sheriff Burch explained that investigators believe Lupton was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the killing. Neighbors also reported Lupton’s appearance was alarming, describing her eyes as unnaturally wide and her pupils severely dilated. In addition to the human tragedy, deputies seized 21 dogs from the residence, raising further questions about the conditions in which the family had been living.
Lupton was taken into custody shortly after the incident and remains held on the serious charges. Authorities have not yet announced whether prosecutors will seek additional charges as the investigation continues. For a community that had long feared the situation might one day turn deadly, the warnings proved grimly accurate.
