An apparent love triangle in east Alabama ended with a man and a woman behind bars in an alleged plot to murder the woman’s live-in ex-husband.
Stevie Earl Harris, 23, and Christian Faith Griffin, 25, are charged with kidnapping and attempted murder of Griffin’s ex-husband – James Hunter Griffin.
Both remain held in the Clay County Jail.
The plan – which was set into motion five days ago – included the threat of an explosives-rigged truck and an attempt to make the victim drink transmission fluid. Instead, it ended with one of the suspects being shot.
The Griffins divorced in 2022, but in court records he described her as his girlfriend and the couple share two young children. She was apparently also in a relationship with Harris, unbeknownst to James Griffin.
According to court records, James Griffin was sitting in his truck Thursday, Sept. 5, about to leave for work when he heard a loud banging noise on his driver’s window.
James Griffin told Clay County sheriff’s investigators there was a gun pointed at him and Harris told him to get out of the vehicle and get on his knees.
James Griffin complied and heard a click noise, charging documents state.
“Mr. Griffin stated that he thought Mr. Harris was going to shoot him right then and there, so much so that he clinched his teeth when he heard the click noise,’’ an investigator wrote.
Harris then told James Griffin to stand up and walked him to the passenger’s side of his truck – still at gunpoint.
James Griffin got in the truck and Harris walked around to the driver’s side and got inside.
Harris told the victim that his truck was rigged with explosives and “today was the day he was going to die” and if he tried anything stupid, they would both die.
When Harris tried to put the vehicle in reverse, he put his gun in his lap, records state.
“This bought Mr. Griffin enough time to fight back and elbow Mr. Harris in the face,’’ according to the criminal complaint.
The gun then discharged multiple times as James Griffin was forcing Harris out of the vehicle.
Harris was shot in the right calf.
“Mr. Griffin stated he got Mr. Harris to the ground, grabbed his gun from under the driver’s seat, shot twice into the ground and grabbed a 2×4 piece of wood from the back of his truck and started to hit him in the head multiple times,’’ the compliant states.
James Griffin said he repeatedly struck Harris in the head because he kept reaching for something.
The arrest warrant also states that Harris tried to make James Griffin drink transmission fluid.
Christian Griffin, records state, is charged because she knew of the plan to abduct and kill and James Griffin and provided information that would assist in that plan.
Christian Griffin and Harris were arrested on Friday. She remains jailed on $100,000 bond.
Harris was denied bond following an Aniah’s Law hearing that was held Monday before District Judge David Law.
