A Shelby County man has pleaded guilty to the stabbing death of his 77-year-old grandmother.

Richard Alan Howell, 31, entered a guilty plea to murder, said Shelby County District Attorney Matt Casey.

Dinah Davis Northcut was found slain on June 22, 2022.

Shelby County 911 received a call of a suspicious person in the 1600 block of Highway 97 in the Summerhill community, near Columbiana. The call came in about 7 p.m. that Wednesday.

Deputies responded to the scene and, after receiving more information, were led to the 100 block of Highway 315 in Summerhill.

It was there they found Northcutt dead in her home. Charging documents against Howell described the murder weapon as a knife.

Howell was taken into custody and charged the following day. He has remained in jail since his arrest.

Judge Lara Alvis sentenced Howell to life in prison. He will receive credit for the 496 days he spent in the county jail before pleading guilty.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sarah Beth Eldridge and Matthew Kimbrough. The lead Investigator was Derek Dixon with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are pleased to bring justice to the victim’s family in this tragedy,’’ Casey said, “and secure a plea that both the family and law enforcement thought was appropriate.”