Daniel pleads guilty to 2017 Goodwater murder, receives life sentences
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Latoni Althea Daniel
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A little more than seven years after 87-year-old Thomas Virgil Chandler was killed in Goodwater, one suspect has pleaded guilty to his murder and been sentenced.
Last Friday, 32-year-old Latoni Althea Daniel of Alexander City entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and murder, both Class A felonies. Circuit Judge David Law presided over the agreement, which was entered into by Daniel; her attorneys, Wakisha Hazzard, Maston Evans Jr and Jackie Blake Tate; Attorney General Steve Marshall; Assistant Attorney General Damon Lewis; and District Attorney for the 40th Judicial Circuit Joseph Ficquette.
The agreement further stated that the parties agreed that Daniel would be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for each count, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Per the agreement, Daniel also agrees to “Testify truthfully if called as a witness in any further proceeding.”
If Daniel overturns the conviction or withdraws her plea, then the state will proceed with the original indictment and will seek the death penalty, according to the agreement.
The plea agreement in Daniel’s case came about following the December 4, 2017, murder of Chandler.
Attorney General Marshall stated, “The victim, Mr. Chandler, had eaten at a local restaurant and then went to the Piggly Wiggly where he was followed by defendant, Latoni Daniel, and her co-defendant. The defendants followed Mr. Chandler both out of the store and as he drove a couple of miles down the road, where the defendants eventually stopped Mr. Chandler’s vehicle. Mr. Chandler was shot multiple times, and his money and personal property were taken.”
Sixteen of Chandler’s family members were in court last Friday, with one of his family members reading a victim impact statement for the court.
Daniel had no prior convictions before this case. With last Friday’s plea agreement Law ultimately sentenced her to two terms of imprisonment for life with the possibility of parole, with Law ordering that both life sentences would be served consecutively.
Following last Friday’s proceedings, Attorney General Marshall stated, “Mr. Chandler was an innocent man, targeted and brutally murdered for nothing more than his money. Today, justice has been served. While no sentence can undo this senseless act of violence, these consecutive life terms ensure that Latoni Daniel is held fully accountable for her role in this heinous crime. I commend the prosecutors and law enforcement officers whose dedication brought this case to a just conclusion, and I pray that Mr. Chandler’s loved ones find some measure of peace knowing that justice has prevailed.”
Sheriff Michael Howell was not in office at the time of the 2017 murder, but said that his office continued the investigation and uncovered additional evidence after he took office in January 2019.
“I would like to thank Sheriff Terry Wilson, his staff, Goodwater Police Department, and the State Bureau of Investigation for their hard work during the investigation. They were prompt in investigating the murder of Mr Chandler and made two arrests quickly. They were able to take the two people responsible for his death off the streets. Mr. Chandler’s murder was devastating for our community, and I would ask that you continue to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Howell added, “The resolution of this case reflects the commitment to ensure that justice is served. I am grateful for the support of the community and the cooperation of all involved parties.”
Marshall commended the Attorney General’s Office Criminal Trials Division who prosecuted the case in conjunction with the District Attorney’s Office for the Fortieth Judicial Circuit, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Damon Lewis, Kenneth Gibbs and Chenelle Smith. Attorney General Marshall also thanked District Attorney Joe Ficquette and the staff of the District Attorney’s Office for the Fortieth Judicial Circuit, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this case.
Daniel was initially incarcerated on the charge of capital murder. She and then 26-year-old LaDaniel Martel Tuck of Goodwater were both arrested approximately nine hours after Chandler was murdered, according to Capt. Tom Herman with the State Bureau of Investigation.
While in jail without bail for 18 months, Daniel had gotten pregnant and gave birth at Russell Medical Center to a healthy baby boy in May 2019. She alleged that she had been raped while in jail, but the state’s investigation into that claim at the time concluded that she had conspired to get pregnant with another inmate.
No information regarding Tuck’s status relating to his murder charge was available as of press time.
While Daniel had no prior convictions, Tuck had been previously arrested on numerous charges, including attempted murder, first-degree robbery, drug possession, and gang affiliation.
Tuck’s prior arrests for attempted murder and first-degree robbery also occurred in Coosa County. Those stemmed from a case in February 2010 in which the In-and-Out in Goodwater was robbed, and the store clerk was shot.
Court records show that in September 2010, his attempted murder charge was dismissed as per a plea agreement.
Tuck pleaded guilty to the first-degree robbery charge in that case. He had to pay restitution totaling $15,726.65 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, he was paroled on May 22, 2017.
Following his arrest less than seven months later for Chandler’s murder and robbery, Tuck was released to a state agency as a fugitive.
He is currently incarcerated at the St. Clair Correctional Facility for his first-degree robbery conviction from 2010, with the Alabama Department of Corrections indicating that he has served nearly 15 years of his 20-year sentence.
In August 2021, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his parole, and a reset date was set for August 2026. ADOC reflects that his minimum release date is February 18, 2030, with his parole consideration to be held August 1, 2026.
