An Alabama man, George Birmingham, 46, has been arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of a military veteran and his wife, whom he allegedly had known for years, having posted about the couple on social media for around a decade. The case is notable for the apparent closeness between the accused and the victims, with online posts suggesting a long-standing friendship before the killings took place.

Birmingham was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning after Justin Elrod and his wife, Lena Elrod, were found dead at 12.15am, following initial reports of a burglary at the property. Investigators are examining the relationship between Birmingham and the couple, given the years of social media activity documenting their apparent friendship, as the case proceeds.