Alabama police ID woman’s body found after tip from kidnapping victim

Published 10:22 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Alabama authorities have identified a woman’s body that was discovered after a kidnapping victim called for help and told officers she had knowledge of a homicide.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies found 31-year-old Kellie Ann Hughes slain on Friday in a wooded area near a Birmingham hospital, the coroner’s office confirmed.

Upon being saved by deputies last week, an unidentified woman gave investigators information that led them to locating the body, Deputy Chief David Agee told news outlets.

The kidnapping victim was found at an apartment complex about 4 miles away, bound by zip ties and stumbling down a flight of stairs, Agee said. She told deputies her knowledge of the slaying may have led to her kidnapping.

Two suspects have been identified and a bulletin has been issued for a stolen rental car, Agee said. He added that detectives are still working to establish a motive and it’s unclear how or if the women knew each other.

Kellie Hughes’ brother told news outlets he had no idea why someone would have wanted to harm his sister.