Murder suspect with dead ankle monitor allegedly committed second murder while in custody

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA/Gray News) – a person from Alabama on bail for murder is accused of committing another murder.

Investigators in Mobile say Nayeon Sanders shot Joseph Evans Jr Dauphin Gate Apartments on Monday evening.

Nyon Sanders allegedly drained the battery in the ankle monitor before committing the second crime.

Now, a privately held company that makes electronic ankle monitors is under fire again.

Presiding District Court Judge Wesley Pipes identified the company as Accupoint and said there had been problems in the past.

District Attorney Keith Blackwood says he is deeply troubled by how this crime happened.

“It’s just the worst-case scenario that everyone in the community fears,” Blackwood said.

Nyon Sanders was arrested Wednesday morning after a search in the area of Bankhead Street and Euclid Avenue.

The victim’s family say they are furious after learning he was already in custody for murder.

“How many times does a person have to kill someone? Like the second time, how many chances will he get?” said Joseph Evans Sr. “This will be the third time for someone’s family to go through what me and the first family went through, so I hope justice is served.”

According to Blackwood, Nyon Sanders should not have been in the area.

“My understanding is Nayon Sanders let his ankle monitor die after 5:00 p.m. and within four hours he committed murder,” Blackwood said.

Last month, Accupoint came under fire for a suspected murder violated the terms his release by visiting a casino in Mississippi.

Pipes says it’s “definitely an option” stop cooperation with Accupoint in the near future.

Pipes also said he reached out to the company Wednesday afternoon. His office is working to find out what happened at several agencies and is exploring several options for the best way to electronically monitor suspects while they are in custody.

According to Mobile police, Nyon Sanders was taken into custody for 2022 murder he allegedly committed with his brother Kevin Sanders.

Court documents state that bond has been revoked for both brothers. The documents also state that the brothers were together during both alleged crimes.

According to court documents, Kevin Sanders has not been charged in the November murder, but he did violate his bond by allegedly driving into a no-go area with Nayeon Sanders.

Blackwood called it a failure of the private ankle monitoring system.

He says the company wouldn’t have been notified of Nyon Sanders’ low battery until 8 a.m. the next morning.

“It’s another case where you have a private ankle monitoring company tasked with monitoring someone in custody,” Blackwood said. “That did not happen in this case, and this defendant is alleged to have committed another murder.”

The district attorney says he’s open to the sheriff’s office taking over the case, but it all comes down to money.

“It all comes down to funding our law enforcement to be able to take on this task,” Blackwood said. “This requires personnel. You must have the equipment. The sheriff’s office, once again, is ready, willing and able to take it on.”

Accupoint did not respond to requests for comment.

The 2022 murder trial is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2025.