By Marty Gordon
The Alabama murder trial of a former Montgomery County man has now been set for August 31. Derrill Richard Ennis was arrested two years ago and extradited to Auburn, Ala., after being indicted for the 2006 disappearance and death of 24-year-old Lori Anne Slesinski.
Slesinski was reported missing on June 13, 2006, after not being seen or heard from for several days. Family members could not reach her, and she did not report to her job at East Alabama Mental Health Center.
Slesinski, who was 24 at the time, had just graduated from Auburn University and had plans to go back to school to get a Master’s in psychology.
The day after the missing report was filed, her 2005 Mazda Tribute was found engulfed in flames at the dead end of DeKalb Street in Auburn, a short distance from where Ennis had lived.
An Alabama judge ruled this past week that Ennis was mentally fit to stand trial after undergoing psychological testing. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty in the case.
Late last year, investigators from the Virginia State Police completed a thorough search of a site on Fishers View Road in Montgomery County where the suspect apparently had lived since leaving Alabama, looking for evidence in connection to the 2006 Alabama crime. Forensic crews searched out buildings and several nearby yurts looking for anything connected to Slesinkski’s disappearance
Her body has yet to be found. Ennis had been considered a person of interest in the case and had been interviewed at the time of Slesinkski’s disappearance. He then fell off the radar when he moved. He apparently moved to the New River Valley a short time later.
Police have not said whether they were looking for the victim’s body or a possible murder weapon on the Montgomery County property.
According to neighbors, police spent three days at 4487 and 4850 Fisher’s View Road.
A search warrant filed in the Montgomery County Circuit Court was listed as August 8, the same date Ennis was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies. Items initially taken included cell phones, computers and other of Ennis’ personal items..
Under the search warrants, officers were able to come back to the property last year and continue their investigation. At least three yurts are located there. Neighbors say police dug several spots adjacent to the property.
Ennis listed his employment for the past three years as a builder for a Floyd County yurt company.
The Virginia State Police have not released any details in the search. Instead, they have referred calls by the media to the Alabama prosecutor’s office.
The tip into Ennis’ location here in the New River Valley came via Facebook posts.
