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A sentencing hearing was held Tuesday at the Covington County Courthouse for Teddy Donnell Cozart, 21, of Andalusia, for his role in the October 2022 murder of Treyvous Le’Jeric “Trey” Cobbins at Foxwood Village Apartments.  The sentencing hearing followed the October 2024 conviction by a jury finding Cozart guilty.

Circuit Judge Lex Short presided over the trial and sentencing. When asked if he had anything to say before sentence was imposed, Cozart declined. Short then sentenced Cozart to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary. Cozart was also fined $60,000 and ordered to pay restitution for funeral expenses to Cobbins’ mother.

Cozart and four others were charged with the murder, one of which remains to be tried. Evidence at trial revealed that Cobbins was at Foxwood Village to deliver marijuana to a resident there. Surveillance footage showed Cobbins approach that apartment, make the exchange, and return to his car. Surveillance footage showed another defendant lying in wait for Cobbins and, as he was leaving Foxwood, he was ambushed and shot at 12 times, with at least two rounds hitting him.  Cobbins died the following day in a Florida hospital.

Evidence also showed that Cozart had made statements to others about his intentions to kill Cobbins, specifically to shoot him. Cozart and another co-defendant are related to Isaac Broughton, and Cobbins had agreed to testify against Broughton in a Conecuh County murder case. Cozart indicated to others that Cobbins had to be killed to prevent him from testifying. Cozart’s fingerprints were also recovered from the vehicle used to travel to and from Foxwood.

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens and Chief Assistant District Attorney Grace Jeter tried the case. At the sentencing hearing, Stephens pointed out Cozart’s violent record and that he was out on bond for a domestic violence crime when the murder was committed. Further, Stephens argued that Cozart showed no remorse for his actions or even sympathy for the Cobbins’ family and their loss.

“Cozart was cold and detached throughout the trial,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell. “In his pre-sentencing investigation, he made statements to the probation and parole office pleading for mercy for himself, but never acknowledging Trey’s family. He is exactly where he deserves to be. We hope the conclusion of this defendant’s case brings some level of closure to Trey’s mother, but we also recognize the case isn’t over with yet another defendant to be tried.”

Under Alabama law, any accomplice to a crime is guilty just the same as the person primarily responsible for the crime.  The five involved were all charged accordingly with murder. 

“It makes no difference that Cozart didn’t pull the trigger. He is equally as culpable for the murder of Trey Cobbins, and the jury’s verdict and Judge Short’s sentence properly reflect that,” Stephens said.

Stephens and Jeter said they wished to thank the Andalusia Police Department, Captain Brett Holmes, Sergeant Al McGraw, and the countless others who contributed to the successful investigation and prosecution of Cozart.