Thomas Steele was denied bond on capital murder charges as a judge ordered an evaluation of his mental competency.
MOBILE, AL — A 47-year-old Alabama man accused of killing his grandmother and aunt with a chainsaw was removed from a courtroom after making a disturbing remark during his first appearance, where a judge denied him bond and ordered a mental health evaluation.
Thomas Henry Steele faces two counts of capital murder in the deaths of his grandmother, Dora Boone, 85, and his aunt, Christy DeLoach, 65. Court documents allege Steele used a chainsaw to kill the women at a home on Carolina Court in Mobile. The charges are allegations, and Steele has not been convicted.
Steele appeared in court Tuesday, Oct. 13, for an initial appearance and bond hearing. When the judge asked whether he had an attorney, Steele said he did not, and a public defender was appointed to represent him. Local news organizations reported that Steele then made an audible remark before officers escorted him from the courtroom without incident. NBC 15 reported that Steele said, “Kill him,” while FOX10 reported hearing “kill ’em.” It was not immediately clear whom the remark was directed toward.
The hearing continued after Steele was removed. The judge denied bond on both capital murder charges and ordered a mental competency evaluation. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the evaluation will examine whether Steele is currently able to understand the proceedings and participate in his defense. No public finding on Steele’s competency has been made.
Mobile police said officers were sent to the 2400 block of Carolina Court at about 1:36 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, for a death investigation. Officers found two women dead inside the home and detained Steele at the scene. Police initially said investigators determined that a known male suspect had used a bladed instrument to intentionally cause the deaths of two family members. Steele was arrested and taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail.
Court records later provided more specific allegations, accusing Steele of using a chainsaw in the killings. Authorities identified Boone and DeLoach as the victims after relatives were notified. Blackwood said investigators believe Steele had been living at the residence with the two women. Authorities have not publicly announced a motive.
A 911 call made earlier Monday has also become part of the timeline surrounding the case. According to a transcript reported by FOX10, a woman who referred to Steele as her nephew called shortly after 11 a.m. because she was concerned about changes in his behavior. She told a dispatcher he had stopped taking lithium, had given away personal belongings and was behaving unusually. She also said during the call that he was calm and was not violent.
The caller said she had contacted the 988 crisis line and was trying to determine what kind of help was available. The dispatcher provided the telephone number for the police department. Public reporting has not established whether the caller subsequently reached police, exactly when the killings occurred or what happened inside the home between the earlier call and the arrival of officers about two and a half hours later.
The earlier concerns about Steele’s behavior do not establish why the women were killed, and authorities have not announced a motive. The court-ordered competency examination concerns Steele’s present ability to proceed through the criminal justice system. Questions about his mental condition at the time of the alleged offenses could be considered separately as the case develops.
Steele remained in custody without bond as the investigation and court proceedings continued. Prosecutors have said further details about the allegations are expected to emerge through the judicial process, while the timing of future proceedings could depend on the completion of the ordered mental health evaluation.
Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.