Alabama High School Student Found with Hit List After Confessing to Killing Brother: Deputies

A 14-year-old boy in Alabama has been arrested for the murder of his 17-year-old brother, and authorities said they discovered a “hit list” in his backpack containing the names of family members.

According to Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas, the 17-year-old victim disappeared on Oct. 2, although family members never officially reported him missing, WSFA reported.

Thomas said the younger boy allegedly confessed to the murder and told officers he shot his brother from the back porch.

The victim then staggered out of the house and fell down the back stairs, and the suspect said he then dragged the body across the yard, according to police.

Later that day, the boys’ father returned home and asked where the older brother was, but the younger boy told him he didn’t know.

On Oct. 3, the the suspect's school called the father and requested he pick up his son, who was purportedly upset about his brother’s disappearance, Thomas said.

Once back at the family's home, the two searched for the 17-year-old, which is when the father found his son’s body and called police, WSFA reported.

Investigators interviewed witnesses and a friend at school claimed to police that the 14-year-old admitted to killing his brother, officials said.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

“He then asked his friend to help him murder the rest of his family and help him bury their bodies,” Thomas said. “The friend also stated the 14-year-old had a hit list in his book bag of family members he wanted to kill and made statements about wanting to shoot up the school.”

Authorities said they searched the boy’s bag and located the list.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Pike County jail on a murder charge. It's unclear if he would be tried as an adult.