Young Student Disappears, Found Dead as Partner Vanishes

Deundray Cottrell, 31, last seen July 4, found dead Saturday.

• Family gathered in Birmingham, AL, for 4th of July.
• Cottrell, a PhD student, stepped out to check on his dog due to fireworks.
• Never seen alive again.
• Body found blocks away, ruled a homicide.
• Partner Julian Taylor Morris, 31, last known contact, now a person of interest, missing.

The Story

Deundray Cottrell, a well-loved, popular student with many talents, went missing on July 4. He had arrived in Birmingham to celebrate with family. Around 10 p.m., he went upstairs to check on his dog, concerned about fireworks. He was never seen again alive by his family.

He went and checked on the dog and I never saw him again.
- Angelica Harris, Cottrell's sister to AL.com

Doorbell footage shows Cottrell running and jumping gates as if searching for refuge or, as his family says, running for his life.

Two days later, his body was found under "suspicious" circumstances, ruled a homicide. The same announcement named Julian Taylor Morris, Cottrell's romantic partner, as a person of interest. Morris is believed to be the last person to see Cottrell alive and has not been seen since Friday morning, with police offering a $5,000 reward.

A tragic and baffling case, leaving many questions and a community in shock.