Full Breakdown
Alabama Man Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Auburn Graduate Whitney Robeson
5/16/2026, 2:29:58 AM
Fatal Shooting of Whitney Robeson in Trussville, Alabama
On March 7, 2026, at approximately 9:30 p.m., 22-year-old Whitney Robeson was discovered with a gunshot wound inside a residence on Deer Trail in Trussville, Alabama. She was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. Trussville Police later arrested her boyfriend’s father, 54-year-old Jeffrey Scott Towers, charging him with manslaughter.
Background & Context
Robeson, a Virginia native, graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in May 2025 with a degree in interior design. Weeks before her death she began work as a Trade Consultant for Restoration Hardware (RH), a position she described as her childhood dream. She was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and had previously worked as a lifeguard and boutique clerk.
Key Figures & Groups
- Whitney Robeson – victim, recent Auburn graduate and RH employee.
- Jeffrey Scott Towers – 54-year-old father of Robeson’s boyfriend, arrested on manslaughter charges.
- Boyfriend – unnamed, also an Auburn alumnus, co-resident at the Deer Trail home.
- Trussville Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division – conducting the investigation.
- Jefferson County Coroner’s Office – ruled the shooting accidental.
- Attorneys John Amari and Dain Stewart – legal representatives for Towers.
Timeline
- March 7, 2026, ? 9:30 p.m. – Police respond to shooting call; Robeson found wounded.
- March 7, 2026, 10:49 p.m. – Robeson pronounced dead.
- May 11, 2026 – Towers arrested on a manslaughter warrant; released on $30,000 bond.
- July 22, 2026 – Scheduled court appearance for Towers.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Whitney Robeson, 22 years old.
- Suspect: Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54 years old.
- Charge: Manslaughter (reckless).
- Bail: $30,000.
- Location: Deer Trail residence, Trussville, AL (? 15 mi northeast of Birmingham).
Why It Matters
The case underscores ongoing concerns about firearm safety in private homes and the legal distinction between accidental discharge and criminal liability. It also highlights the impact of a sudden loss on a community and a promising professional trajectory.
Official Statements & Responses
Trussville Police announced that an extensive investigation led to Towers’ arrest and noted the coroner’s accidental-death ruling. Attorneys Amari and Stewart described the incident as tragic, emphasized Towers’ lack of criminal history, and asserted his innocence.
Criticism & Opposition
A former prosecutor publicly urged law enforcement to conduct a “closer look” at the investigation, suggesting additional scrutiny was warranted given the circumstances surrounding the death.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office classified the shooting as accidental, yet prosecutors have pursued manslaughter charges. Authorities have not disclosed the specific evidence or mechanism by which the accidental discharge occurred, leaving a factual gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What happened to Ms. Robeson was a tragic event,” — John Amari and Dain Stewart, attorneys for Jeffrey Scott Towers
- “We know that the facts will show that Mr. Towers has no criminal history, has been a productive and upstanding citizen for his entire life and is not guilty of these charges,” — John Amari and Dain Stewart, attorneys for Jeffrey Scott Towers
- “Whitney was hitting her stride exactly the way we always knew she would. In her new role as a Trade Consultant at Restoration Hardware, this marvelous, independent woman was on the cusp of her successful career in interior design: the job she had always wanted since she was a little girl watching HGTV,” — Whitney Robeson’s family, obituary
- “We mourn Whitney not only as the daughter, sister, and friend she was to us, but also as a woman in the full bloom of her youth and the fantastic mother and aunt she had the potential to become,” — Whitney Robeson’s family, obituary
What’s Next
Towers is scheduled to appear in court on July 22, 2026. The investigation remains open, and further details about the circumstances of the accidental shooting are expected to emerge as the legal process proceeds.
