From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden:

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - On Thursday December 4th, 2025, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, along with Powell Police Department and DeKalb Ambulance Service responded to the 200 block of County Road 158 in Fyffe in regard to two females being deceased in a residence. 

The DeKalb County Drug and Major Crimes Unit was notified and responded to the residence where investigators processed the scene, interviewed neighbors and other witnesses, and identified Ruth Genett Rowland (79 of Fyffe) and Charlotte W. Harper (76 of Fyffe) as the deceased.

During the investigation, a search warrant in relation to this case was executed in the 1400 block of Forest Ave in Fort Payne where additional evidence was gathered.  At the conclusion of the search warrant Oliver Nick Harper (37 of Fort Payne) was arrested and charged with two counts of Abuse of a Corpse due to the actions taken by Harper in the days after the deceased died and prior to their discovery on December 4th, 2025.

Oliver Nick Harper (37 of Fort Payne)

This case is still active, and additional charges may be pending. 

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: "As we continue this investigation our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Ms. Rowland and Ms. Harper, please keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers.  I am deeply grateful for the hard work of our investigators and partner agencies and will remain committed to finding the truth and achieving justice in this case".  

"God Bless!" Concluded Sheriff Welden.