A DeKalb County man who was arrested and charged with the murder of an 11-year-old girl in 2019, pled guilty to a capital murder charge.

Christopher Wayne Madison was arrested after Amberly Alexis Barnett was found strangled in a wooded area behind Madison’s home in Collinsville.

Madison has been sentenced to life without parole.

The plea was granted in the Circuit Court of DeKalb County.

Below is a statement from 9th Judicial Circuit Judge Jeremy Taylor

“Today the State of Alabama, in consultation with the family of the victim and in consultation with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, reached an agreement with Christopher Madison and his attorneys. Madison pled guilty to the charge of Capital Murder. By agreement with the State, Madison will serve the rest of his life in the State Penitentiary without the possibility of being paroled. The family of the victim and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were present in the courtroom for the guilty plea and acknowledged the plea agreement.”