The Murder of Anthony Gibson
For this case, I watched an episode of Snapped. It’s season 29 episode 22.
A 20-year-old disappears in a small Alabama town.
Background
Anthony Shane Gibson was born on November 1, 1994. Anthony’s mother left when he was young, but he raised by his father, Christopher, along with his grandmother, and other extended family members.
At the time of his disappearance, Anthony was living with his dad and grandma in the small town of Harpersville, Alabama. Anthony worked for his family’s siding business, and was taking online classes. Anthony was described as having a strong work ethic and had a passion for music.
Anthony Gibson
The Discovery
On July 5, 2015, a woman was out riding her four-wheeler in a wooded area known as the playground, in Leeds, Alabama. The woman saw what looked like a leg sticking out from a burn pile. She called her husband over, and together they called the Leeds police.
The victim was sticking out from the burn pile, and the arms were outstretched. The main part of the torso was almost completely burnt, bones were noticeable, and some skin was still attached to the extremities.
When the medical examiner arrived to move the body, it was discovered that the victim’s chest cavity was completely open. There were several shell casings found in the burn pile, but the area was known for people shooting their firearms.
On July 7, the victim was positively identified as Anthony Gibson. One of Anthony’s hands hadn’t been burned, so the medical examiner was able to use his fingerprints to get a positive match. A cause of death couldn’t be determined, but Anthony did have an injury to his femur and he had a fatal amount of methamphetamines in his system. There were also bullets removed from Anthony’s body, but the police believed the bullets had been from people shooting into the burn pile.
The Search for Anthony
Detective Kevin Palmer of the Leeds police went to speak to Caffie, Anthony’s grandmother. He didn’t reveal to her right away about Anthony’s death.
Detective Palmer asked Caffie if she knew if anyone had wanted to hurt Anthony. Caffie didn’t know, but revealed to Det. Palmer that no one in their family had heard from Anthony since July 2.
Caffie said Anthony had asked to borrow her car on July 2 around 8pm. According to Anthony, he was going to go to the store to get some food, and would be back. Caffie said she woke up on July 3, and saw that her white Ford Escort, and Anthony were still not home.
It wasn’t like Anthony to miss work, or to not answer any phone calls from his family. Anthony’s family tried to file a missing persons report with the Harpersville police department, but they said Anthony hadn’t been missing for that long.
Caffie also told Det. Palmer that she had been able to get the records from Anthony’s phone because the phone had been registered under her name. Caffie said Anthony had been in contact with two numbers on the night he disappeared. The phone numbers belonged to his current girlfriend, Jessica, and his ex-girlfriend, Candie Zito.
Detective Palmer had to reveal to Anthony’s family that he was found, and most likely had been murdered.
Anthony’s Last Movements
A BOLO (be on the lookout) was put out for Caffie’s 1998 white Ford Escort.
The police also spoke to Jessica. Jessica said she had been at work on July 2, and had left work around 11pm. Jessica said she was supposed to meet Anthony at Walmart, but he never showed up. Jessica was cleared as a suspect, and Anthony’s family had nothing but good things to say about her.
The police turned their attention to Candie Zito. Candie and Anthony had only briefly dated when Anthony was 16, and Candie was 26. (Yep, Candie was 26, and Anthony was a frickin’ teenager).
Candie was contacted by Anthony’s family, but she told them that she hadn’t spoken to Anthony in years.
On July 9, the police received a tip. A man contacted them, and said that a man named Lane Lowery could’ve been involved in Anthony’s disappearance. Lane and Candie had been dating, and Lane also had a long criminal history.
The tipster told the police that he heard a rumor that Anthony had intervened in a fight between Lane and Candie. Lane apparently became angry, and killed Anthony.
Candie’s Life
Det. Palmer also tried to contact Candie, but she told him that she was throwing her phone out of the window, and that was the last time they spoke.
The police went to Candie’s last known address, which was the home of her parents. Candie was born into a wealthy family. While her siblings were successful in academics and sports, she wasn't. In her 20’s, she married a man, but that was short lived. She then started dating Anthony, but it ended when she moved overseas with her family.
When Candie was living overseas in Barane, she was often out partying. Her parents sent her home alone because of her behavior. They didn’t allow her to move back into their house, so she had been living in a tent in the backyard.
The police went to the home of Candie’s parents. While they were there, they spoke to her brother, who was checking on the house. Det. Palmer also noticed that portion of the driveway had been recently cleaned.
On July 10, a BOLO was put out for Candie. The police believed she had stolen the white Ford Escort.
The High Speed Chase
The next day on July 11, the Davies County, Indiana police received a phone call. The call was from Candie’s grandmother. She said Candie had shown up at her house asking for a place to stay and money. She refused to let Candie in, and saw her drive away in a white car.
On the way to the grandmother’s house, the police in Indiana spotted the car at a gas station, and attempted to pull it over. Candie was in the passenger seat, and the male driver fled the scene.
The high speed chase lasted for about 15 miles until the car ran into a tree at a high rated speed. Candie, and her cousin, Corey Zito, were airlifted to the hospital. Corey went into a coma, and Candie was treated for severe injuries.
Evidence of a Murder
The police were able to search Anthony’s now totaled car. There was a large amount of blood in the trunk, which was revealed to be Anthony’s blood.
The police subpoenaed Candie and Corey’s phone records. On July 2, Candie had texted Anthony, and asked him to bring her food. Anthony agreed, but said he wanted pictures first. Candie sent him pictures, and lured him to her house by promising sex.
Candie’s phone put her at close proximity to where Anthony’s body was eventually found. In Candie’s phone, they also found photos of Candie and Corey with an AK-47. The police also found photos of them that suggested they were involved in a relationship, despite them being cousins.
The police contacted the medical examiner, and asked if the injury to Anthony’s leg could’ve been from a high powered rifle. The medical examiner said yes, and that Anthony most likely could’ve survived if his injury had been treated.
What Really Happened?
On July 16, 2015, Candie was released from the hospital, and taken to the Davies Co. jail.
On August 12, 2015, Candie was questioned by Det. Palmer. During her interview, Candie was asked about her relationship with Anthony. Candie told Det. Palmer that she didn’t know Anthony was only 16, because he had lied and said he was 18.
Candie revealed that on July 2, she asked Anthony to bring her food. She said while she was eating, Anthony was doing drugs, and became very aggressive with her. Candie said she started screaming, and that’s when Corey ran out of the house. Candie said she heard a shot, and heard a car take off. Candie said Corey returned some time later in the white Ford Escort.
Detective Palmer knew that Candie had probably been more involved in the murder than she was telling him. A former jail cellmate of Candie’s told the police that Candie openly talked about how she was involved in getting rid of Anthony’s body. She said that Candie had lured Anthony over by telling him they would have sex. The plan was to rob Anthony for drugs and money. They killed him, and put his body into the trunk of his grandma’s car where he bled out.
The cellmate also said Candie talked to her about Corey waking up from his comma. Candie apparently said that if Corey woke up then she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison.
Corey did wake up, but it was clear that the car crash had left him with some sort of brain injury. Corey didn’t remember much, and could barely speak.
The Plea Deals
On March 13, 2016, Corey was found competent to stand trial.
There was fear that the murder charges wouldn’t stick. Anthony had been found with a leg injury, and he did have a high level of meth found in his system.
The prosecution had been approached by Candie and Corey’s attorneys for plea deals. The prosecution spoke to Anthony’s family, and they agreed to a plea of 20 years for murder.
Both Corey and Candie accepted the deals, and were sentenced on September 7, 2018. They will be eligible for parole in 2030.
The many faces of Candie
Candie and Corey Zito
FINAL THOUGHTS
They both deserve life in prison. I believe Candie was the mastermind, and somehow Corey agreed to take another persons life. Candie only cared about partying, and would’ve done anything for money and drugs.
Sources
https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/candie-corey-zito-murder-anthony-gibson-in-robbery
https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/02/woman_indicted_on_murder_charg_1.html
https://www.wvtm13.com/article/two-indicted-in-death-of-man-found-burned-in-leeds/3834328
