A former Alabama couple – who attended high school in Birmingham and were students at Jacksonville State University – were found murdered in their business in Louisiana Tuesday night.

The bodies of Eugene “Frank” Gurley, age 72, and Patricia Gurley, age 70 – were discovered at National Pool Builders, where officers had responded as part of a welfare check when the couple’s neighbors called to say they hadn’t seen or heard from them since Monday.  Officers and the Gurley’s son had to force their way inside the business – which is located in Livingston Parish, not far from Baton Rouge – where they made the gruesome discovery.

Denham Police Chief Shannon Womack has yet to release an official cause of death however during a Wednesday afternoon press conference called the crime “…the most senseless and heinous” in his career. 

Womack has announced a person of interest in the case – 45 year old Michael T. Collins has an outstanding warrant for simple burglary, and is believed to currently be in possession of the couple’s white 2016 Nissan Frontier pickup truck bearing the Louisiana license plate #Y193507.  Womack said Collins may be in, or headed toward, Macon County, Tennessee.

The Gurley’s both attended the old Banks High School in east Birmingham, which was later converted to a middle school before finally closing in 2007.

Following high school the couple attended Jacksonville State University.

(al.com/www.al.com)