By Clayton Wallace

Contributing Writer

The family of Angel Downs does not believe her death was the result of suicide. The 45-year-old woman was found Sunday night with a fatal bullet wound to the head outside her condominium at The Ridge, off Fort Morgan Road.

During a press briefing Thursday afternoon, three of Downs’ family members were present while their attorney, Ken Raines, read a brief statement. “The family believes 100 percent that Angel’s death was not a suicide,” Raines said. “The person responsible will be charged and convicted without a shadow of a doubt.”

Raines said the family had no reason to believe Downs was even considering something like suicide – and they had been in contact with her Sunday. “The family communicated with Angel the day of - and literally minutes before - this incident occurred and her untimely death followed,” Raines said.

A memorial service for Downs will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Gulf State Park Pavilion.

Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine, who had a romantic relationship with Downs, remains the only person of interest “at this time” in the investigation according to Gulf Shores Police Lt. Dennis King.

Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb said a neighbor of Downs’ was walking her dog when she heard a gunshot. The neighbor said she saw a truck with a blue county tag leaving the scene. The truck matched the description of Nodine’s.

Nodine turned himself in to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office later in the evening. He was questioned in the case according to King. “I’m sure we’ll make an attempt to talk to him again,” he said.

Nodine did not attend the Mobile County Commission meeting the next morning. It has been reported that Nodine checked himself into a hospital, and according to King, he remains there as far as his department knows.

King confirmed the gun that fired the fatal shot and was found next to Downs’ body belonged to her. However, it has not been determined who fired that shot. According to Newcomb tests are under way to make that determination, but those tests take time. She said the on-scene tests for gunpowder residue that are shown on popular television fare such as CSI are not deemed accurate under Alabama law, so more detailed tests are being performed by the state forensics laborator.

Both King and Newcomb said they respected Downs’ family’s right to state their belief that her death was not a suicide, but a final disposition of the case has not been made. “That’s the family’s position,” Newcomb said. King agreed with her. “That’s their opinion,” he said. “I’m sure that’s the opinion of others.”

Newcomb and King said the investigation remains open and ongoing. “There are facts in conflict here,” Newcomb said. “We’ll keep working this investigation until we find the facts.”