Enterprise murder suspect convicted, in historic trial

An Enterprise man is facing sentencing after being convicted for the murder of a missing woman in a first-time case in recent history for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

Malcolm Hunter, represented by attorneys David White and Josh Pipkin, will be sentenced on June 11 in the Enterprise Courthouse.

According to Assistant District Attorney Jon Folmar, Hunter faces 20 years to life. A press release from the District Attorney's Office said it will seek the maximum sentence, life without parole.

Hunter faced a 14-member jury of seven men and seven women during a six-day trial that began on Wednesday, May 9, before Judicial Circuit Judge Jeff Kelley. Assistant District Attorneys Folmar and Mary Katherine Head represented the state during the trial.

Hunter was arrested on Feb. 2, 2017, and charged with the murder of missing Enterprise woman Ayanna Nneka Smith. She was last seen on W. Brunson Street on Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.

Ayanna Smith's body has not been found to this day. At the time of Hunter's arrest, Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Anderson said a person could be charged with murder even with the absence of a body "if a jury can reasonably infer, based on the evidence, actual or circumstantial, that it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the missing person is in fact dead."

During the first day of the trial, Patricia Smith, Ayanna Smith's mother, said her daughter traveled to Dothan to receive her CNA license the day she disappeared. She said she saw Hunter alone with her daughter's car the next day.

She said she was told Ayanna Smith was going to pick up the car but later saw him traveling alone in the car again. Eventually, Patricia Smith said the car was returned to her daughter's friend before it was returned to her.

She said she noticed two cell phones, one of which was broken, in the car, a wallet she said was her daughter's open in the front of the car and medical records or private documents scattered across the car seat. She also said she noticed a black panel was torn from the door and a single shoe, which she said was her daughter's, sitting on top of it. She said she called the police after seeing this.

During the trial, Patricia Smith also testified that Ayanna Smith and Hunter had only dated for a few months, and despite posts on social media, she said her daughter was not married to Hunter. Ayanna Smith's father, Johnny Smith, also said his daughter never told him that she was married.

Patricia Smith told the court that her daughter did not leave for long periods of time without telling someone where she was or where she was going.

Johnny Smith echoed her statements. Johnny Smith said the longest time he could think of that he and Ayanna Smith went without communicating was "one or two times, maybe a week"

Throughout the remainder of the trial, the jury was shown footage of the Cannon Oil gas station, where Hunter was said to have stopped the night of Ayanna Smith's disappearance.

DNA evidence was also presented to the jury, as well as testimony from other experts and witnesses related to the disappearance and murder of Ayanna Smith.

Hunter was found guilty of murder on Wednesday, May 16, after less than an hour of deliberation.

According to the release from the District Attorney's Office, the "evidence at the trial of the case indicated that the defendant (Hunter) shot Ayanna Smith on the night of January 21, 2017, and then ultimately disposed of the murder weapon and body."

The release stated that the office was "pleased with the result (of the trial) on behalf of Ayanna's family." It also stated that the District Attorney's Office was thankful for the assistance of the Enterprise Police Department.

Pipkin, Hunter's attorney, said Hunter intends to appeal the conviction. He said no further comments would be given at this time.