Jacksonville, AL – Brett Buckner with the JSU media team first wrote about Brent Thomas, a seasoned investigator with a penchant for old-school methods. Mr. Thomas has become an invaluable asset at the Jacksonville State University (JSU) Center for Applied Forensics (CFAF). After retiring from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) in 2016, Thomas found a new calling as a part-time investigator at CFAF, specializing in cold case investigations and officer-involved shootings.
With a cluttered desk adorned with yellow legal pads and decades-old evidence folders, Thomas embodies the classic investigator, relying on tried-and-true techniques. “It all helps with connecting the dots,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of meticulous record-keeping.
Mark Hopwood, Director of CFAF, attested to Thomas’s dedication, saying, “I’ve bought him computers and laptops, but every time I go in his office, he’s sitting there with a legal pad and pencils. Then he’ll stop and ask me for more of those big poster boards. It would drive me crazy going through those files, but he loves it.”
Thomas, a JSU graduate in production management, began his law enforcement career as an Alabama State Trooper in 1984. His journey led him to the ABI in 2003, where he served as a sergeant until his retirement in 2016. Recognizing his aptitude for investigation early on, Thomas described himself as a “timeline-logic type of guy.”
Being meticulous and detail-oriented is crucial, particularly when dealing with cold cases. “There’s no magic,” Thomas emphasized. “You have to be patient, a logical thinker, pay attention to the details, and document.”
Thomas imparts his wealth of knowledge to the agencies and officers he assists and trains at CFAF, emphasizing the importance of thorough documentation. He believes that detailed notes may prove essential in solving cases years or even decades later.
One notable success of Thomas’s work at CFAF was the resolution of a 2002 cold case in Heflin, Alabama. Monica Rollins and her six-year-old son, Dalton, were brutally murdered, and her unborn child also perished in the attack. Through meticulous investigation, Thomas contributed to the arrest of Lewis Ladon Spivey in June 2023, an acquaintance of Rollins. Spivey, serving a 15-year sentence in Florida for an unrelated crime, confessed to the murders and awaits trial.
Thomas acknowledged the emotional toll of his work, stating, “If you want to help people at the lowest, worst point in their lives, this is it.” He emphasized that his goal is to uncover the truth and bring closure to victims’ families.
President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. highlighted JSU’s commitment to law enforcement training and support. “Jacksonville State strives to serve as the law enforcement training capital of the State of Alabama,” he said. The Cold Case Program, housed within CFAF, is just one of JSU’s initiatives aimed at supporting and training Alabama law enforcement, reflecting the university’s dedication to making a positive impact on both public servants’ careers and the communities they serve.
