Campaign murder mystery takes spooky turn

Associated Press
February 11, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- More than five years ago, Rod Spraggins made a sensational charge at a candidate forum, publicly accusing a political opponent of murder with nothing to back up the allegation except, it turns out, a vision.

Now police say Spraggins was right.

Barry Waites, Spraggins' opponent in the 2000 race for Lanett City Council, was arrested this week on murder charges in the 1998 slaying of his wife, who was found dead in their home in Lanett, a town of 8,000.

In 2000, Spraggins, 58, a bail bondsman, stunned a crowd of 100 when he accused Waites of killing his wife and dared the man to sue him for slander if he was wrong. Waites was not at the forum, never responded publicly and never sued.

Waites was serving as interim mayor when 49-year-old Charlotte Waites was found strangled and with a blow to the head.

In an otherwordly turn to the saga Friday, Spraggins disclosed that the accusation was based entirely on Charlotte Waites appearing to him in dreams.

"She started appearing to me within the first weeks of her death," said Spraggins, adding that the dreams prompted him to enter the City Council race for the sole purpose of making the accusation.

He and Waites lost their bids for the council amid the controversy, but Spraggins said he got what he wanted in the end.

Waites, 58, was arrested Thursday.

Police would not comment on what led to the arrest.

The truth is an absolute defense.