From Trussville Tribune staff reports
News of the man found dead inside a home on the 2500 block of Evergreen Road in Springville Monday morning has shocked those in the St. Clair County School System who knew Michael Colllins as a librarian and football coach at Odenville Middle School
Michael Collins
According to county coroner’s office officials, the cause of Collins’ death remains unknown. Local authorities are investigating the death as a homicide.
According to the St. Clair Sheriff’s office, the body was found around 8:46 a.m. on Monday.
Collins’ body will be sent for forensic testing today.
St. Clair Sheriff Terry Surles could not be reached for comment prior to this report being published.
According to the Odenville Middle School website, Collins, 46, taught at the school for 10 years. During the last six years, the Jacksonville State University graduate served as the school’s librarian. He also served as an assistant football coach at St. Clair High School.
No names of suspects or persons of interest have been released at this time.
St. Clair High School Principal Mike Howard said pastors and volunteers are present at the school today to help counsel those touched by Collins’ passing.
“It’s definitely sad around here,” Howard said. “There are a lot of students and teacher who are in disbelief that something like this could happen in such a small community.”
Tonight,the varsity football team that Collins served as its director of player operations will hold a candlelight vigil at the school at 8 p.m.
Also, on Friday those who knew and loved Collins will pay homage to Collins by releasing balloons during a jamboree game against John Carroll that will be played at 7 p.m. at Mickey Venable Field at the former site of the high school.
“Our community and school system lost a really good teacher and a really good man,” Howard said. He meant a lot to us.”
31 Comments
Shauna McLeroy
Clearly no details have emerged…
Phil Fritts
The new updated news is that there is still no updates lol.
Rachel Alvis
Where are the details
Sherri Wray
Did I miss the details?
This is such a tragic story for his family, friends, co workers, and students. Why keep showing the headline if there is nothing new to report? I understand you’re a newspaper, but this has already been reported and there is nothing new to report. How about reporting about what he meant to his students, the coworkers he encouraged, those he helped? That’s what any good teacher deserves to be remembered by.
Jackie Love King
Bait and switch… no more information !!
Karen Jones
Details emerge?? Wait….what? Where are the deets?
Heather Marie
Praying for his family and all in the school. Truly sad.
Shauna McLeroy
It would be nice to know if this is isolated or random. My family lives in the community and this while tragic is unnerving not knowing if there is a murderer in the area.
Kevin Radenz
Why post with no details
Ashley Michele Semrick
Emerging Details ??? Is that your way of getting website clicks . As for it being isolated or Random Shauna McLeroy ,They always say stabbings are a personal crime , therefore he probably knows his killer .
John Michael Brewer
Clearly no new details
Shauna McLeroy
Years of watching crime dramas and murder mysteries lead me to the same conclusion…I would like to know that the suspect has been identified just for peace of mind.
The media normally has tons of info to release seems authorities are keeping the investigation low key.
Ashley Michele Semrick
Shauna McLeroy agreed but it will take longer to investigate , because this a man who had no enemies and who was loved by many . I think the county is just doing a thorough in depth investigation to cover everything .
Sherri Wray
But I’m sure it doesn’t help any of you to keep posting with no new details. You are worried enough without that, I’m sure.
Laura Long Goolsby
I’d rather the authorities keep their details close than leak too much info and let a murderer walk free.
Shauna McLeroy
from the good things I’ve read about Mr. Collins he was well respected and his memorial tonight reflects how he touched so many lives.
Tamara Pitts Mahaffey
Seriously! Don’t post “details emerge” when they are the same as yesterday and nothing is new or any more informative. RIP, Coach.
Wade Cox
Where’s the details… this is old news
Karla Harrelson Gealow
Have respect for the victim and his family. This is a tragic case. Prayers for justice and peace.
James D. Dunn
What details?
David Clements
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/details
Bill-jan Proctor
Prayers for family
Laura Aitken
CBS 42 has an article that very bluntly lists the cause of death. Out of respect for his family and friends, I think Trussville Tribune is handling this more tactfully. I don’t know how CBS found out when other news outlets don’t know, so I’m not exactly sure how true it is. However, if y’all fancy the read – you may look it up at:
http://wiat.com/2017/08/21/authorities-conducting-death-investigation-after-body-found-in-springville/
The Trussville Tribune
The Trussville Tribune appreciates all feedback from its readers. Clearly, the original headline was not the best choice for the article as it did not accurately match the story’s information. It has been changed to better reflect the story’s tone. The original headline was not meant in any way as an effort to pull in readers with the promise of content the newspaper was not yet able to deliver. Furthermore,The Trussville Tribune will always strive to do its best to be precise in its coverage and present headlines that best summarize the stories they represent. We at the Trussville Tribune regret the previous error and are pleased to set the record straight. Thank you for reading.
Sherri Wray
Everyone makes errors now and again. Sending you a pm.
James D. Dunn
We still love y’all!
Sherri Wray
Laura Aitken, The best part of that story was
“Mike Collins was not just a coach or teacher he was a lot more than that. I have seen him take kids under his wing that have no guidance or home life and guide them and be an ear for listening and a shoulder to cry on. He coached and assisted with both baseball and football. All the kids looked up to him as a mentor and role model. We have our first football game Friday at home and the sidelines will be quieter with the loss of such a great man. Mike Collins was the dad some kids never had. RIP.
When my son was in high school in 2012, there was a young man on the team whose dad was not in the picture and the mom had cancer. Mike Collins made sure he had clothes, shoes, lunch money–you name it and Mr Collins did it for him. So there are several boys that he has been the only father they have ever known.”
Good teachers, and by all accounts I’ve read, he was, should be remembered as such, and not as the victim in a crime. Just my opinion.
Kathy Carlin
Praying for his family.
Melissa Spraggins
Kent Spraggins
Josie Smith
So sad!
Laura Aitken
Exactly! This was someone’s friend, someone’s son, possibly a brother – they are going to have a hard enough time in the very near future going over the details. Especially if it makes it to court. I don’t think news outlets always consider things such as that. I personally didn’t know him, but I sure hate for someone, especially someone that is so good to others, being killed. It’s heartbreaking.