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Four suspects arrested in connection to an October 2022 murder in Andalusia have been denied bond through the application of Aniah’s Law.

According to the 22nd Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Derrick Demetrius Thomas Jr., Teddy Donnell Cozart, Siyonesty Marchelle Gill and Le’Morion Lorenzo Fantroy, all of Evergreen, appeared in court recently for Aniah’s Law hearings. District Attorney Walt Merrell requested the defendants be denied bond based on Aniah’s Law, which allows judges to hold defendants who are charged with violent crimes, including murder, based on meeting certain requirements.

The four suspects are charged in relation to the murder of Treyvous Cobbins, also of Evergreen, who was shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Foxwood Apartments in Andalusia. The district attorney presented to District Judge Julie S. Moody that there were no conditions of release that would ensure the defendants would make their appearances in court or guarantee community safety.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that the investigation discovered that Cobbins was to be a witness, possibly testifying against Isaac Broughton, in an upcoming murder trial in Conecuh County. Broughton is related to Thomas and Cozart. Cobbins was allegedly lured to the Foxwood apartment complex where he was shot multiple times as he leaving. The investigation —  conducted by the Andalusia Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — also indicates that the murder was planned in advance by the four defendants.

After hearing the evidence presented at the hearing, Judge Moody ruled on the side of the district attorney’s office and denied bond for each defendant, citing the it was a “murder for hire” with all four planning the murder and three of them receiving payments for the murder. The judge also noted that Thomas was involved by ambushing Cobbins, delivering the fatal gunshot wound to the head while Cozart played a key role in luring Cobbins to the Foxwood Apartments with the intention of killing him.

Merrell said he advocated for the application of Aniah’s Law to withhold bond based on protecting the public and due to the possibility of the defendants being indicted by a grand jury for capital murder, which could involve the death penalty. The death penalty, according to Merrell, increases the possibility of flight risk.

The Andalusia Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and that there could be other arrests in the case.

The case against the four defendants in custody is expected to be heard by a Covington County grand jury in September.