Alabama Man Convicted of Killing His Nephew’s Wife After Claiming He Was Looking for a Lost Cow

An Alabama man has been found guilty of murdering his nephew’s wife following a deadly confrontation that began with an argument over a missing cow. Timothy Houston Harville, 61, was convicted by a Lawrence County jury in connection with the September 2023 killing of 46-year-old Angela Berryman Hill Harville. The jury also found him guilty of first-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and menacing, bringing an end to a case that left Angela’s family waiting years for justice.

According to prosecutors, Harville went to Angela’s home in the Hatton community on September 13, 2023, claiming he was searching for a lost cow. He reportedly became involved in a heated confrontation after encountering a family friend at the property. Angela’s teenage son was also present and allegedly became caught up in the tense situation. As the argument escalated, Angela tried to separate the men and calm things down. Concerned about what was happening, she called her husband and asked him to come home to help resolve the dispute.

The most disturbing moments reportedly unfolded while Angela was still on the phone with her husband. During the argument, she allegedly challenged Harville, telling him, “Go ahead and blow my brains out.” Her husband then heard a gunshot, followed by Harville making a chilling remark: “There you go.” When Angela’s husband arrived approximately 10 minutes later, he found her dead inside the home. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators later recovered a 12-gauge shotgun from Harville’s home. Authorities said the weapon used the same gauge ammunition as a shell casing discovered at the crime scene. Harville reportedly maintained that Angela had invited him inside and was still alive when he left. His defense attorney also argued that there was no physical evidence directly connecting him to the shooting and insisted that Harville maintained his innocence. Prosecutors, however, presented witness accounts and other evidence that persuaded the jury to convict him.

After the verdict, Angela’s family expressed relief that the case had finally reached a conclusion, saying that although nothing could bring her back, they were grateful her death would not go without justice. Harville is scheduled to return to court for sentencing in January 2027, where he could face a lengthy prison term. For Angela’s loved ones, the conviction marks a significant moment after more than three years of waiting for accountability in a case that began with something as seemingly ordinary as a search for a missing cow.

Source: PEOPLE