Woman Charged with Murder After Baby Found Dead in Hearse at Alabama Funeral Home

29-year-old woman arrested and charged with murder after a baby was found deceased in a hearse at West Gadsden Funeral Home.

By Savage RoyalT | August 6, 2025 | SavageRoyalT.com

GADSDEN, AL — A 29-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder after the body of a baby was discovered inside a hearse at a funeral home in Gadsden, Alabama. According to the Gadsden Police Department, the case began on the morning of Saturday, August 8, when an employee of West Gadsden Funeral Home found the body of an infant inside one of the company’s hearses. The employee immediately contacted authorities, and police officers arrived to secure the scene. In a statement released by the funeral home, staff stressed that the tragedy occurred “by no fault of the Funeral Home” and that law enforcement was notified as soon as the discovery was made. The statement also urged the public to refrain from making negative assumptions without knowing the facts, adding that the staff was devastated by what had happened.

When police first arrived, there was little information to work with. Patrol units secured the area while the forensics unit documented and preserved evidence. Detectives worked quickly to gather leads, and within 12 hours, the investigation led to the arrest of 29-year-old Terica Pearl, who is now being held without bond. The police credited the arrest to a coordinated effort between the Gadsden Police Department, the Etowah Major Accident Crime Center, the FBI, the Huntsville Police Department, and local community partners. Mayor Craig Ford praised the work of the officers, saying, “This was a tough case for everybody involved. I’m proud of the way our police department went after the truth and got it done. An arrest doesn’t take away the hurt, but it does mean we’re one step closer to justice for this child.” The police department said the child’s name will not be released out of respect for the family and noted that while the investigative phase is complete, the case will now move forward through the judicial process. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Gadsden Police Department at 256-549-4500.