Suspect in 2010 attack of elderly man up for parole hearing

Published 9:13 am Wednesday, September 25, 2024

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The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles has scheduled a parole hearing for one of the suspects who pleaded guilty to charges related to a Nov. 8, 2010 incident, in which a Dallas County man was kidnapped, stabbed and left for dead.

Johnathan Pitts

Johnathan Samuel Wayne Pitts, now 38, will appear before the parole board on Thursday, Sept. 26, on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, theft of property second degree and two counts of burglary third degree. He pleaded guilty on July 29, 2011, to the charges and was given sentences of 35 years for both attempted murder and kidnapping and 10 years for theft and burglary charges, all of which are running concurrently.

His minimum release date was listed as Aug. 18, 2044, on the Alabama Department of Corrections website.

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Pitts along with William James Goodman were charged with the kidnapping and attempted murder of Dallas County resident Wallace Daniels. The suspects were accused of knocking on Daniels’ door and asking him for a ride to get some gasoline. When Daniels refused, the suspects kicked open the door and hit the victim with something, forcing the elderly man to his knees. The suspects ripped apart some extension cords, tied up the victim and put him in his truck, the blue 1992 Chevrolet.

Once they arrived at a large lake on Arrowhead Road, Goodman and Pitts attempted to cut Daniels’ throat, stabbed him in the neck and back, and held him under water until they believed he was dead.  Daniels pretended to be unconscious and when Goodman and Pitts left, he was able to crawl to safety.

Goodman, now 33, was sentenced to 99 years in prison for attempted murder, kidnapping first degree and robbery first degree charges and 20 years for theft of property first degree. All of the sentences are running concurrently with his release date set for Nov. 9, 2109.