Man who allegedly kidnapped wife, left her friend for dead, dies after attempting to harm himself in jail
A West Blocton man jailed in the kidnapping of his wife in Bessemer, and in the beating of her friend who police said was “left for dead” in his camper has died.
Jimmy Aaron Boothe, 42, was arrested several days after the Jan. 28th abduction that led to a critical missing alert for the 38-year-old woman.
He was charged with two counts of first- degree kidnapping, attempted murder, burglary and second-degree domestic violence. He was held in the Jefferson County Jail in the Bessemer Cutoff.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Boothe on April 12 was found inside his private cell attempting to cause harm to himself.
No additional details were released.
Boothe was taken by ambulance to UAB Medical West where he remained until he was pronounced dead at 7:49 p.m. Monday.
Court documents state he was on life support during his hospital stay, and a judge on April 14 issued an order formally releasing him from custody so that his family could visit him.
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
The female victim, according to charging documents, was Boothe’s wife. The male victim is described as the wife’s “friend.”
About 1 a.m. that Tuesday, Boothe was accused of forcing his way into the male victim’s camper on Dusty Lane in Bessemer.
Police say Boothe then beat the man repeatedly with a blunt object and cut him with a knife.
He also bound the male victim’s feet and hands and locked him in the camper from the outside to “keep him from intervening while Boothe kidnapped his wife.”
Documents state he forcefully removed her from the camper and threatened to harm her to keep her from seeking help for herself or her friend who “had been beaten and left for dead.”
Records claim Boothe had been stalking and harassing his wife to a point that she feared for her safety prior to breaking into her friend’s camper.