Body Found In Freezer, Arrest Made

By WKRG Staff
.

Update 2:00 p.m. Mobile police release new information about the gruesome crime, including who's body they think was in the freezer. Body Found In Freezer, Arrest Made
Published: Tue, July 29, 2008 - 1:47 am Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:58 am
2:00 p.m.
- Beverly Jackson, the pastor at Inspirational Tabernacle COGIC where the revival was held last night, tells News 5 Anthony Hopkins was preaching at the revival.
- Hopkins' message was about forgiveness and not passing judgement. At one point, Jackson says Hopkins' turned to his seven children and asked them to "forgive him of his past, present and future."
- Police let Hopkins finish his sermon before arresting him.
- When Jackson asked police why they were arresting Hopkins, she says they told her "He murdered his wife."
- According to Jackson, Hopkins told her that his wife died 4 years ago while giving birth to their youngest son.
- LIVE TEAME COVERAGE on News 5 at 5:00 and 6:00.

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11:00 a.m.
- Mobile police believe the woman who was found in the freezer is Anthony Hopkin's wife, 36-year-old Arletha. She was never reported missing but police say she has not been seen in public for at least 3 years.
-Police say they aren't sure, but believe the body had been in the freezer for quite some time.
- Hopkins was arrested Monday night during a revival at the Inspirational Tabernacle Church in Jackson, AL.
- Seven of the couple's 8 children were with Hopkins at the revival.
- All 8 children were home schooled.
- Police went to Hopkins' home on Rylands Street after a 19-year-old went to the Child Advocacy Center to report she was being raped by an older man.
- Police say it will take several days to thaw out the body before they can positively identify her

2:47 a.m.
Mobile Police have made an arrest in a bizarre incident in which a woman's body was found inside of a freezer. Police arrested 37 year old Anthony Hopkins early this morning and charged him with murder. The body was found in Hopkins' Rylands Street residence Monday night about 7pm after police executed a search warrant at 258 Rylands Street. The warrant was based on information police received about a homicide at the house. The woman's identity is still unknown and an autopsy will be performed to determine a cause of death. Hopkins has also been charged with multiple other crimes including Rape Second Degree, Sodomy First Degree, Sex Abuse First Degree and Incest. Hopkins was taken into custody by police about 10pm Monday at a church in Jackson, Alabama.


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Children are afraid no one will believe them, because that is what many abusers brainwash and groom their victims to believe. Children may be threatened by the offender. Some people never tell until they leave the home (until they feel safe within themselves to tell). Just like domestic violence.
Mark my words- YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW (HE IS GOING TO REAP THAT)

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What I don’t understand is why the daughter waited so many years to say her father was raping her? I mean 8 years is a long time!! Ain’t that much love in the world for the sick dog not to report him before now. Is she mentally stable? He probably done drove the poor child crazy. So sad. Hopkins is a sick sick sick sick nasty rotten dirty dog!!!!!!!!

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Police let Hopkins finish his sermon before arresting him (nice of them). NYPD would have snatched him out of the pulpit upon entering the building.

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It’s strange his name is Anthony Hopkins, same as the actor in Silence of the Lambs. Is this his real name? Just a little weird.

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I hate that he has probably used tithes to operate his perverted world.  He was like a wolf in sheeps clothing, his poor children will never likely live any resemblance to a normal life.  I pray for them, it is sad that this man used God as a store front.  Our world is in such decay around us.

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My apologies WKRG! I posted a comment about this story under a seperate listing from yesterday…it was not deleted. My mistake!

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This is HORRIBLE! This man looks to be your average Joe who wouldn’t harm a flea. Goes to show you what we’ve always been told.  “NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER”.  I pray for this woman, and I’d say I’d pray for the family, but my feelings are if they cared that much seems as though someone would have placed a missing persons report.  But, who knows behind this I am sure is a twisted story. I am sure all of the church members are praying for this thing called a PERSON.

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He even home schooled the kids so no one would find out.

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Strange…I posted a comment asking if anyone else saw the irony in the suspects name…and WKRG deleted it? Did I offend?

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So how in the heck does a woman disappear for that long and no one notices.  She died while giving birth, hello why was she not at a hospital and why would he not call for help.  I feel for his children who have probley been tortured by this man and terrified of what happened to their mommy.  Where is this woman’s family did she have none or did he kill them too. This is sad and he should never be forgiven.

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