Westley Devon Harris

Westley Devon Harris was born on April 3, 1980, in the United States. Public records regarding his early childhood, education, and family background remain limited. By his late teens and early twenties, Harris had entered into a relationship with Janice Ball, who was a minor at the time. The relationship lasted approximately two years and produced one daughter. At the time of the crimes, Janice Ball was pregnant with their second child.

The relationship between Harris and Ball was marked by instability and repeated separations. Testimony later presented in court established that Harris had a documented history of violent behavior toward Ball. Due to these concerns, Ball left Harris and moved to her grandmother’s residence on a family-owned farm in Rutledge, Crenshaw County, Alabama.

In an attempt to maintain stability for Ball and their child, her father arranged for a trailer to be placed on the farm property so Harris could live nearby and assist with family responsibilities. Despite this effort, the relationship continued to deteriorate. Ball and her daughter moved between the trailer and the main house intermittently, largely due to Harris’s continued aggression.

On August 23, 2002, three days before the murders, Harris reportedly struck Ball during an argument after refusing to give her money for household necessities. Following the incident, Ball demanded that Harris leave the property. Over the next two days, Harris repeatedly contacted her by phone, expressing concern that her family intended to press charges against him. Members of the Ball family later confronted Harris and forced him to leave the property while armed, escalating tensions further.

On e morning of August 26, 2002, Westley Harris returned to the Ball family farm armed with a shotgun. At approximately 8:30 a.m., he entered the residence where Ball and her grandmother, Mila Ruth Ball, were sleeping. Harris restrained both women using tape and later fatally shot the 62-year-old grandmother in the kitchen area of the home.

Afterward, Harris tied Ball to a bed and proceeded to another bedroom, where he shot and killed Tony Ball, her 17-year-old brother, while he was asleep. Harris remained inside the residence for several hours with Ball and their 17-month-old daughter.

Later that afternoon, John Ball, aged 14, returned home from school and entered the house alone. Harris shot and killed him in the kitchen. Shortly thereafter, Willie Hasley, Ball’s father, arrived at the property. Harris confronted him outside and fatally shot him near the hog pen.

More than an hour later, JoAnn Ball, Ball’s mother, returned home. Harris shot her once in the back of the neck and then again, causing her death. Her body, along with Tony Ball’s, was later placed inside a trailer on the property.

The final victim, Jerry Ball, aged 19, arrived at the farm while Harris was loading belongings into a vehicle. According to Ball’s testimony, Harris shot Jerry once in the head and once in the chest. His body was placed inside the trunk of a car.

Following the murders, Harris fled the scene with Ball and their child. The bodies of all six victims were discovered the following day. Harris and Ball were initially listed as suspects. On August 29, 2002, Harris was located and arrested. Ball was released after being identified as a witness.

On August 30, 2002, Harris was formally charged with six counts of capital murder. Prosecutors immediately announced their intent to seek the death penalty.

Harris’s first trial began in October 2004 but ended in a mistrial on November 15, 2004, due to jury tampering allegations. A retrial commenced in May 2005. On June 14, 2005, Harris was convicted on all counts of capital murder. The jury recommended a sentence of life imprisonment without parole by a 7–5 vote.

Despite the jury’s recommendation, the presiding judge exercised Alabama’s judicial override authority and sentenced Harris to death on August 12, 2005.

Harris pursued multiple appeals over the following years. His convictions and death sentence were upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Supreme Court. Subsequent post-conviction appeals were denied through March 11, 2022.

As of the most recent records, Harris remains incarcerated on death row at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama, awaiting execution.