A suspect has been identified in relation to the death of a young woman in Alabama who was found murdered in her apartment on Jan. 29. Hoover police arrested and charged Cortez Lenard Warren, 32, who was identified as the victim’s boyfriend. Police apprehended Warren after a hot pursuit along Interstate 65 on the same day the victim’s family found his girlfriend, 25-year-old Madison Shea Pilkingon’s lifeless body.
According to Fox News, Warren and Pilkington were co-workers at Baumhower’s Victory Grille in Vestavia Hills and have been sharing an apartment together at The Halson Off Lorna Road. Pilkington’s family had growing suspicions as to why they have not heard from her for a few days especially after finding out she failed to show up for work on Jan. 28 without any prior notice.
Court documents showed that a concerned family member of Pilkington decided to drop by the couple’s apartment to look in on her. Having been previously handed a key to her apartment, the family member came by around 4 am and entered the apartment only to find Pilkington’s dead body under a pile of blankets on the couch with her head covered by a grocery bag. Police were dispatched after a 911 call from the apartment, after which Pilkington was pronounced dead at the scene by the responding paramedics resulting from blunt force trauma on her head.
Investigators searched through the apartment for evidence until 10 am and were seen loading a garbage bag into the police van after sifting through a nearby dumpster. Authorities then issued a lookout for Warren and his white Nissan Altima after identifying him as a primary suspect. Warren was later spotted while traversing through Irondale and Birmingham and onto Interstate 65 where he crashed onto a police SUV and a passing motorist. He surrendered at the crash scene.
Police say Pilkington’s death may have been a possible case of domestic violence with Warren having a history of domestic violence on record. He was arrested in 2016 for assaulting a woman, who apparently decided to drop the charges.
Court documents also revealed Warren allegedly broke Pilkington’s phone to keep her from calling detectives for help stating it appeared that someone had tried to clean up traces of blood in the apartment.
"Warren was interviewed post-Miranda and admitted to having attempted to clean up the crime scene,” reports stated.
Warren is being detained and held in jail on a $262,000 bond while awaiting his first court appearance. He has been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
