PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

January 10, 2019

Steven Varnado Sentenced to Life in Prison

Montgomery County, Ala. – A man found guilty of killing a Montgomery County couple in a deadly 2015 Thanksgiving Eve confrontation will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Steven Varnado was sentenced today by Judge Jimmy Poole to three terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A Montgomery County Jury found Varnado guilty of capital murder in the death of Anthony Packer and Sherika Huffman Packer, and two counts of capital shooting into a dwelling. Varnado was also convicted of the attempted murder of Legarian Huffman, for which he received an additional sentence of life in prison.

“While I am glad that we were able to get justice for the victims’ families, it does not change the fact that a precious little girl is growing up without her parents,” District Attorney Daryl Bailey said in reference to the Packers’ daughter. “Our citizens are tired of these brutal, senseless acts of violence. I can’t stress enough that violent actions will lead to extreme consequences. And by extreme, I mean facing the stark reality, like Steven Varnado, of taking the rest of your breaths on this earth behind prison walls.”

District Attorney Daryl Bailey once again praised Deputy District Attorneys Ben McGough, Damon Lewis and Scott Green for their hard work in this case, as well as DA Investigators Denny Merritt and T.D. James. He also thanked the Montgomery Police Department, specifically lead Det. Guy Naquin for their assistance.

Background

On Nov. 26, 2015, Varnado and two others went to the house next door as Varnado believed his neighbors were responsible for breaking into his home in the 2000 block of Endicott Drive on different occasions.

Legarian Huffman answered the door and Varnado punched him in the face. Anthony Packer and Shericka Huffman Packer were inside visiting with family members and did not live at the house.

According to witnesses, Varnado and his co-defendants fought their way into the home, and Varnado went back to his house to get a gun. Varnado returned to the house next door and began shooting, hitting both Anthony Packer and Sherika Huffman Packer in the chest, and Legarian Huffman in the hand.

The Packers, who left behind a young daughter, both died at the scene.

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