'Running for his life': PhD student's final moments deepen mystery for family, police

A family has been left reeling after the abrupt disappearance of a loved one resulted in a suspicious death.

The family of Deundray Cottrell, 31, last saw the doctorate student on the evening of July 4th, when he stepped away from a family gathering in Birmingham, Alabama to check on his dog. He walked upstairs never to be seen alive again, according to local outlets.

Cottrell's body was found under "suspicious" circumstances days later just a block away from where he was last seen, police said. The same day, his death was ruled a homicide and police issued public notice of a search for his partner, Julian Taylor Morris, who hasn't been seen since Friday morning.

Doorbell footage recovered during the search reportedly captured Cottrell racing through yards and hopping gates as if he was "looking for refuge," his family told local news organization AL.com.

The strange series of events has left Cotrell's loved ones and the community baffled. Here's what we know about the case so far.

Who is Deundray Cottrell?

Deundray Cottrell was a 31-year-old Atlanta-based doctorate student working on his PhD after receiving his master's degree in public administration and bachelor's in marketing, according to his Instagram.

He also used social media to show off his many other talents, including modeling, mixology and dance. Cottrell served as the CEO of the dance troupe Skiiboy and often made popular posts sharing his fashion sense and collaborating with different brands.

Cottrell was a "well-loved, well-known, good-hearted person and there’s a lot of people hurting from him being gone,’’ his sister, Angelica Harris, told AL.com when Cottrell originally went missing.

When did Deundray Cottrell go missing?

Cottrell originally went missing on the evening of Thursday, July 4.

Cottrell arrived in Birmingham from Atlanta Thursday to celebrate the holiday with his family, according to a police press release. He was spending time at a family member's home when, around 10 p.m., he told his sister he was going upstairs to check on his dog because of fireworks going off.

“He went and checked on the dog and I never saw him again,’’ Harris told AL.com.

Police said they were called to the home that night when friends and family couldn't find Cottrell. He was last seen on foot, said police, and the family told AL.com that Cottrell's partner reported seeing him take off through the backyard after a conversation in the house.

The family told the local outlet that they found Cottrell’s sunglasses, cell phone and one of his shoes while searching for him. Police later found some of Cottrell’s clothing around where he went missing and reviewed surveillance footage from neighbors, which showed him walking in the area.

Cortell's family told AL.com that the recovered Ring doorbell footage showed him running through yards and jumping gates as if he was "running for his life."

The family and police searched through Friday and into Saturday for Cottrell.

USA TODAY has reached out to Birmingham Police and Harris for comment.

Deundray Cottrell found dead

Unfortunately, Cottrell was found deceased two days later around 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Police have yet to release the circumstances of Cottrell's death but did call it "suspicious" upon discovery. The same day, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Cottrell and ruled the manner of death homicide, the Birmingham Police Department announced online that evening.

It was also in that post that Julian Taylor Morris was named a person of interest in the investigation.

Who is Julian Taylor Morris?

Julian Taylor Morris, 31, was Cottrell's romantic partner and is a person of interest in the investigation. Police believe he may have been the last person to see or hear from Cottrell the evening of his disappearance. 

Morris and Cottrell initially came to Birmingham together to celebrate the holiday, Angelica Harris told AL.com. Morris was allegedly in the house when Cottrell went inside to check on his dog around 10 p.m. and told the family he had spoken with Cottrell, according to AL.com.

The family told AL.com they felt Morris was acting "erratically" as they searched for Cottrell that night. The family told the outlet they saw Morris Friday morning but have not seen him since.

Police, who are offering a $5,000 reward for any information on Morris' whereabouts, describe him as a 5'6", 160-pound Black male.