BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — There are more questions than answers about what happened to a 31-year-old Atlanta man after he was found dead in a shed following his disappearance in Birmingham, Alabama.
Deundray Cottrell, who had lived in Atlanta for about ten years, had deep ties to Alabama. He graduated from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham in 2011 and Jacksonville State University in 2012. His sister, Angelica Cottrell, described her brother as a dancer, bartender, masseuse and a student working on his doctorate.
"He was not afraid to do the work," she said. She also always believed was bound for big things. "At a very young age, my brother's personality was just too big for Birmingham," Angelica said.
Angelica and her family are now searching for answers about his mysterious disappearance and death. Deundray arrived at his sister's home in Birmingham on July Fourth with his partner, Julian Morris, around 6 p.m.
"It's interesting because Deundray normally has such a busy schedule that it's not normal for us to see him for the Fourth of July," Angelica explained.
But this holiday was different. She noted that it was unusual for Deundray to visit without his other partner, DeEric. Deundray was a dancer and the CEO of Skiiboyz Entertainment, a male trio dance group based in Atlanta that included Julian and DeEric.
"DeEric had been around my brother for over 14 years," Angelica said, noting that Julian had only been in the picture since around 2020.
Despite the oddity of the situation, Angelica said they had a good time, and Deundray assured her that everything was fine between the trio.
"It was about nine o'clock when the kids went out to shoot off fireworks, and that's when D (Deundray) decided he would go in and check on their dog," she explained, adding that was the last time she saw her brother alive.
An hour later, Angelica said Julian came out calmly and said Deundray had jumped out of a window. The family immediately began searching for him, but Julian stayed back, eating barbeque.
"He was way too chill," Angelica said.
Birmingham Police got involved around 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, and the following day, officers found a piece of Deundray's clothing near where he disappeared. A neighbor's home security footage showed Deundray in distress.
And on July 6, officers found Deundray's body in an abandoned shed one block from where he went missing. The Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide.
Police have named Julian Morris a person of interest but have not identified him as a suspect. Despite online reports, Birmingham Police said Julian has not contacted their homicide unit.
"We need to speak to him as soon as possible," police said in a press conference.
Angelica said she last saw Julian after asking him to leave her house following Deundray's disappearance.
"He was acting out of it," she said. "Everyone was searching, he was eating, he had no sense of urgency."
Angelica said she offered for him to stay at their mom's house just up the road. A few hours later, Julian woke them up and tried to get back into their home. She said they called the police and put him on trespass notice.
She said up until his body was found, Julian was calling her brother's phone.
"Like nonstop calls, all day. He called, he sent messages, he sent music through the text messages. Just the craziest of things," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department's Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
"I thank Atlanta for embracing him, giving him his wings, allowing him to experience things that he probably never would have," Angelica said. "My entire family is so grateful to everybody that has loved him, hugged him, encouraged him, motivated him. We're incredibly grateful to everybody."