Case summary
- The incident: Police responded to a neighbor's frantic call reporting gunshots and found Patricia Birmingham dead from gunshot wounds in her driveway. Her husband, Carey Birmingham, was at the scene and was arrested for the killing.
- The motive: The couple's argument was reportedly about Carey's suspicion that Patricia had been having an affair and had given the other man a large sum of his money.
- The video evidence: Patricia had recorded the half-hour argument leading up to the shooting on her cellphone. In the video, Carey is seen pointing a shotgun at his wife and, after she asks if he really wants to do this on video, he tells her, "You're going to meet Jesus," before firing three times. This chilling video was shown to the jury during the trial.
- The trial and sentencing: In March 2024, Carey Birmingham was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder. The sentencing drew criticism, especially from the couple's daughter, Olivia, and others who felt the penalty was too lenient, particularly considering the video evidence. Carey will be eligible for parole in 5 years.
