Revelation has whispered and a toxic truth emerged, marring all it met.

Oil from the Deepwater Horizon gusher stretched eastward down the Gulf Coast, not only on the surface but in greater abundance beneath the waves than was originally told. The mire clogged the reeds and grasses, stained snowy sands, wrapped life in viscous death. Animals succumbed. Industries perished.

Accused killer Steve Nodine did much the same, polluting those who reached toward him. And the murderous summer rolled on. 

Mickey Dearmon used his friend’s predicament to further his own agenda and his cravings for the limelight. Then his secrets surfaced.

Dearmon perjured himself in a bond reduction hearing, testifying his record was clean when the truth was that he had legal troubles of his own. Turns out Dearmon had threatened another volunteer fireman with a pipe wrench and was charged with obstruction of governmental operations and menacing. He had missed a court date in that case and a warrant was issued for his arrest. It was recalled after his attorney told a judge Dearmon was confused about the date.

al.com

Mickey Dearmon

Dearmon’s side projects also came out, his attempts to delve into the music industry. A MySpace.com page was discovered that featured the Semmes car salesman boasting of his entertainment biz bona fides, a listed affiliation with locally based Jada Entertainment and several hip-hop artists, some specializing in “gangsta’” style work.

myspace.com 

The web page displayed photos of the Dearmon estate being used for video shoots, gatherings and more salacious shots of him posing with handfuls of $100 bills.

 myspace.com

myspace.com 

After discovering the site on Monday, June 7, I called an editor. While talking to him, I perused the online gallery.

Suddenly, links began to fail, pictures disappeared. The story was slipping away.

I scrambled, grabbing a couple before everything was gone.

I raced to a search engine and followed links to the pages of artists he knew, grabbing shots there before those wafted away, too.

The website was removed altogether within 20 minutes.

I phoned the owner of Jada Entertainment, realtor Tony Cooper seeking Dearmon’s true association.

“At one point in time, Mickey was down there helping out a lot,” Cooper said. “We depend on a lot of volunteers, but he was never officially a part of the company. I’ll say this much: Mickey could bring in some good talent.”

The authorities in Baldwin County had heard enough. Dearmon’s cash was accepted but his property bond rejected, citing his pending criminal charges. His 5,000-sq. ft. lakefront estate was scratched as the site of Nodine’s house arrest.

Dearmon claimed astonishment. “I'm just a regular guy trying to do right by my friend,” he said. “What I can't understand why people can ridicule people for trying to help somebody.”

And the photos, the conveyance of a lifestyle not suited for sheltering inmates? Ignorance again.

“I don't even know how to get on MySpace,” he said. Someone certainly did because the photos vanished after media contacted him.

Dearmon turned to neighbors Scott and Dolly Gatlin, owners of a Semmes heating and air conditioner business. Their residential property was valued by the county at $425,400 so securing the property bond was no problem. 

Nodine met his burden on the murder charge and was officially transferred to federal custody. 

…

When Nodine entered his “not guilty” plea to the federal court, he claimed indigence and was assigned a public defender. Now, that was over, too. 

The head of the federal defense office, Carlos Williams, was married to Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood so a conflict of interest could arise. Recusal was requested and granted. Private attorney Gordon Armstrong III was assigned the case.  

… 

When Nodine’s county-issued truck was seized and searched following the murder, swabs were taken, inside and out. Of particular interest were stains on the outside of the driver’s door.

On June 7, Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb announced that lab tests declared the samples “inconclusive for blood.” She said the final forensics report wasn’t back yet.

Meanwhile, Mobile County released Nodine’s cell phone records for that last billing period. Combined with his bill from the previous month, patterns emerged.

For the period of March 26 – April 25, Nodine exchanged 157 calls and 432 text messages with Downs’ cell phone and six with her office phone.

Most intriguing was the record for April 23 – 25, Mullet Toss weekend at the Flora-Bama Lounge on the beach at the state line east of Gulf Shores, Ala. For decades, the three-day festival had fostered a reputation as the Redneck Riviera’s biggest Bacchanal where the scantily clad and well-lubricated come to let loose for a few days.

Nodine was captured at the event by WEAR cameras and a freelance photographer who worked with the Mobile Press-Register.

Rumors had circulated for weeks through news circles of tales from Downs’ friends, stories of an obsessed Nodine tracking Downs through the beach community that weekend, of arguing and a physical altercation.

On Friday, Nodine and Downs exchanged 17 calls and 38 texts, 12 calls and 53 texts on Saturday and 28 calls and 88 texts on Sunday. The vast majority of those calls were one minute in length with none being more than five minutes. His last call of that weekend was at 3:16 a.m. Monday morning.

The exchanges shrank to 117 calls and 35 texts from April 26 until Downs’ death on May 9. The calls with her office increased, however, to 26.

On the day of Downs’ death, the calls came in clusters.

There were two calls to her cell phone before 8 a.m., three calls between 11:36 a.m. and 11:38 a.m. then four calls – 7:38 p.m., 7:42 p.m., 7:43 p.m., 7:44 p.m. – shortly before Downs was discovered in her driveway at 7:53 p.m. Each call was listed as one minute in length.

Nodine’s phone was then silent for an hour. The next call was to WPMI anchorman Greg Peterson at 8:47 p.m. for two minutes. At 8:51 p.m. he phoned attorney Mark Erwin for four minutes. Attorney Matt Green called Nodine at 8:58 p.m. for two minutes.

Nodine phoned Erwin at 9:01 p.m. then dialed Green at 9:09 p.m. Each call was one minute. Green called at 9:13 p.m. and talked for six minutes.

On Wednesday, June 9, Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean called for Mark Erwin’s resignation.

“I never used him,” Dean said. “The day that Nodine resigned was the day his attorney needed to go. We don't need an extra attorney.”

Commission President Ludgood reviewed Erwin’s contract and announced the next day they were “legally obligated” to honor his contract through September. There was no stipulation whether they were bound to send work Erwin’s way.

On Friday, June 11, Nodine waived arraignment and entered a plea of “not guilty” to murder.

That afternoon, I phoned a source in Baldwin County law enforcement to discuss the course from there. He confirmed that a decision in Monday’s federal proceeding would determinie whether Nodine returned to a cell or not.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” the source said, “he sure has been an arrogant ass in jail.” 

… 

Monday, June 14, Nodine was escorted by U.S. marshals into the courtroom of Federal Magistrate Judge William Cassady. He wore the same black-and-white-stripes, the same shackles hung from his ankles and wrists, but something about him appeared different. Defense counsel Armstrong was beside him at their table.

Press was crowded onto the second pew in the small gallery. Attorneys Knizley and Williams sat in the front row.

Nodine looked at the pair of defense lawyers, smiled and winked in confidence.

Proceedings began with Alabama Bureau of Investigations Agent Anthony Calderaro. He described the December drug discovery and subsequent uncovering that the defendant received 2,447 Lortab from four doctors, filled in four states and ten pharmacies in an 11-month period. 

Calderaro also discussed Nodine’s previous discussions with medical personnel, both personal and those at Mobile Infirmary who saw the defendant when he checked himself into the psych ward on May 10 citing depression and suicidal thoughts. He also admitted to using “two to three joints per weekend for depression.”

“He was distressed,” Calderaro said. “He was diagnosed as being suicidal. He had major depression. He was treated for opiate withdrawal and drug and substance abuse.”

Calderaro divulged that Nodine told doctors he was taking up to 10 Lortab a day. He also described the discovery of a Nodine Lortab prescription for 100 Lortab that had 21 pills missing despite having been filled only the day before.

At the hospital, Nodine tested positive for opiates and marijuana.

The hospital recommended discharge and admission to a substance abuse clinic near Birmingham. Nodine agreed but never reported to rehab. He admitted smoking marijuana again after release.

Calderaro told of the discovery of the guns at Nodine’s home, ownership that in conjunction with drug abuse would violate federal law.

U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell introduced the1987 police report from West Palm Beach, Fla. detailing Nodine’s forced entry into an ex-girlfriend’s apartment that ended in assault.

“You haven’t spoken to the officer or victim from 1987 have you?” Armstrong asked the agent.

“No, sir,” Calderaro said. 

“So you don’t know if he remained close friends with her, if he exchanges Christmas cards with her or if his son Christopher knows her children, do you?” Armstrong said. “You don’t know if this report is true, do you?”

The defense described hip problems and recommended hip replacement as the reason for the Lortab. They also alluded to conspiracy as an explanation for the marijuana’s presence.

When Calderaro described his assumption of a county commissioner’s duties, Nodine raised his eyebrows, smiled and nodded.

Next up was John Lynam, the Nodine friend who not only arranged for Nodine’s ballyhooed award of an honorary degree from a trade college but also agreed to lend his abode for any house arrest. He described the defendant as peaceful and sober.

“I’ve never seen him use more than two drinks and that includes a five-hour round of golf,” Lynam said. Lynam went on to describe what he saw as a strong relationship between Steve and Christopher Nodine.

“Do you think the defendant has the skill to raise money?” Bedwell asked. 

“Yes,” Lynam said, “That’s why we have (steel manufacturer) TK (ThyssenKrupp) here.” Nodine smiled and nodded his head, seemingly pleased at the observation.

The state told the bench Nodine’s ability to raise funds was troubling. They noted his bond risked the property of others.

“He has no skin in the game,” Bedwell said. “Even his custodian doesn’t know him well or know about his background.” 

 “He has led a double life,” Bedwell continued. “He exposes whichever aspect of his personality suits him at the time.”  She pointed to Nodine’s admission to medical personnel that he “had violent outbursts and a temper problem.”

The defense said a local named Wayne Anderson secured Nodine a job with P&W Construction upon his release, that he would be tied to the community in that way.

The state said Nodine’s use of marijuana after the hospital release showed a disregard for guidelines and the law as does his refusal to go to rehab.

“This is indicative of a person who doesn’t follow terms or conditions,” Bedwell said.

Judge Cassady sided with the defense. He threw out the 1987 report saying the police officer’s signature on the official document wasn’t enough, that it was never verified by the ABI.

Cassady cited the willingness of others to post bond and shelter Nodine, along with his political service, as evidence of community ties. The judge discounted the drug use as evidence of flight risk, calling supervision by three jurisdictions and two probation officers “significant.”

Nodine and Lynam stood before the bench receiving the terms of house arrest.

The customary GPS ankle bracelet will be in place.

Nodine’s passport was gone. He can’t be around firearms and travel is limited to Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Random drug testing, abstinence from alcohol and random visits from probation officers were included. All prescriptions must go through probation officers. He must submit to substance and mental health counseling if ordered

Nodine can leave the home for employment, education, religious matters, doctor visits, court appearances and attorney visits. A probation officer must approve any other trips.

Any contact with law enforcement must be brought to a probation officer’s attention within 24 hours.

When asked if he understood the terms, Nodine straightened and loudly responded, “I have not let the United States down in 28 years and I won’t now.”

Dennis Knizley shook his head and muttered “Shut up” under his breath. Williams nodded.

Nodine’s demeanor in previous court appearances was different, tight-lipped, reserved, wary. Now, days after the lab tests from his truck returned “inconclusive for blood,” the man who gave himself the nickname “The Hammer” had slipped back toward his customary cockiness. 

… 

Nodine’s release into the community was at hand and DA Newcomb wasn’t comfortable. She filed a motion for Baldwin County Circuit Judge Charles Partin to increase Nodine’s bond back to the original $500,000.

As part of her argument, she filed a series of e-mails between Downs and Nodine. The correspondence revealed a violent streak in the defendant, a man not beyond assaulting his paramour in public. The descriptions included abuses of power, of Nodine blustering and threatening those who attempted to intervene on Downs’ behalf.

“Even the folks in the food line tried to help me from your abuse,” Downs wrote. “All I did was waited in line for a hamburger and you tried to arrest the guys in front of us bc they told you to stop harassing me and the older couple behind us asked what you were on. This is not worth it!!!! …You use your badge as a tool or power trip when out in the public…you abuse your powers. I don’t know any man who gets a kick out of hurting (physically and emotionly) as you do. You humiliated me and hurt me. I have no choice but to remove myself from the situation. I now have nightmares of you trying to kill me.”

She described him “body slamming” her into a door.

Written across the documents were classic patterns, the manipulation, self-loathing and guilt customary in such cases. Downs talked of injuries confirmed by medical personnel and proof of such.

“I actually had to go to the hospital and they have pics on me from all the bruises, poking, scratching, pishing etc.,” she wrote. “Even did a blood test for my records. U fractured my tailbone by pushing me down and slammering my head on the door…U almost got ur ownself arrested by screaming, poking and pushing me. However, I saved ur ass by not saying anything bc u had drugs in yr pockets. You are an addict. You need help.”

“Until you turn yourself into a pain clinic as your doctors suggested I will not be around…as next time you may actually succeed in killing me,” Downs said.

They also showed attempts by him to cover his tracks.

“U fell down three times,” Nodine responded, “once inm room twice on street, u kept attacking me b, I did not hav e any drugs on me, am not e mailing any of this as it is all a joke if u know what I mean, I can’t text u but hav e pics of my arms.”

I contacted Peter Hyatt, an internationally known statement analyst employed by the State of Maine. His reputation has carried him across the Atlantic and his high profile work includes the cases of Caylee Anthony and Susan Smith.

Hyatt thought the e-mails were important.

“She attempts to show that there are witnesses to verify her account,” Hyatt said. “Another sign of veracity is the use of ‘said’ and ‘told.’ ‘Said’ is softer language, but ‘told’ is stronger; authoritative, perhaps even an argument.  The guys ‘told’ him to leave her alone, but the elderly couple ‘asked.’  This is consistent and a sign that this account is truthful. Any change in language must reflect change in reality and here we have a sign of veracity.” 

“As you likely know, the danger for a woman comes when she attempts (usually with some success) to break away from the controlling abuser,” the analyst wrote. “When she is free from him, she is, statistically, more likely to suffer serious injury or death.”  

“Her e-mail to him appears to be credible and trustworthy,” Hyatt concluded.

Defense attorney Knizley quickly discounted the analysis, citing Hyatt’s distance from Mobile.

Nodine appears before Judge Partin on June 23 in the hearing on bond increase.

One gambit from the defense played out as expected. His tale of a less-than-ideal upbringing for hospital doctors was made a part of the record in the federal hearing and subsequently printed in the local daily newspaper.

The defense played another hand, something they let leak via rumor for weeks before going on record in response to the e-mails. It revolved a text message from Downs to her sister. 

“She said she had a gun and that Nodine was coming, and where do you shoot the burglar in the front or the back,” Knizley told WKRG. The defense said they learned about the text message while taking depositions from some of Downs’ friends during the former commissioner's impeachment proceedings.

“That would suggest she had the weapon in her hand and intended to use it on Mr. Nodine,” he said.

What he didn’t address was how this sat in opposition to the defense’s previous statements that Nodine and Downs were friendly and had earlier spent that day at a Pensacola beach in harmony. 

…

It was two days after the federal hearing before Nodine was released due to an unsuccessful appeal by the U.S. attorney’s office. I filed a story with information on the charged killer’s exact future location, in a tony historic neighborhood less than 1,000 feet from a school.

Lynam phoned my editor, incensed that we published his address. My editor informed him that his anger was misplaced and that any expectation of secrecy Lynam had was beyond naïve.

Funniest of all was that Lynam didn’t even own the house. He is a renter.

“Just keep Kevin Lee away from me,” Lynam stridently said. What the editor didn’t tell him is that we could have printed far more information about Lynam, public records about residences, marriages and finances had we found it pertinent.

Nodine left the Baldwin County Corrections Center that afternoon in a change of clothes and told media, “I’m innocent and look forward to proving myself with great lawyers, thank you.”

By the time he stopped at the probation center, media was already gathering at Lynam’s house.

When I arrived in the neighborhood, camera crews were milling about. An SUV sat at the curb, the driver running the engine while the air conditioner staved off the oppressive summer heat.

“That’s a process server,” one reporter said as he pointed to the SUV. “She won’t say what she’s here for but just said it wasn’t Nodine.”

We waited. Clouds gathered and thunder rolled across the sultry afternoon. No sign of Nodine.

A smattering of fat raindrops sent us to the shade of a magnolia tree, the breeze making things temporarily tolerable.

Sweat trickled and seeped as we stared down the street. Still no Nodine.

When the gray pick-up truck carrying the defendant made the corner, everyone sprang. The truck wheeled quickly into the driveway, disappearing behind an automatic gate.

We pressed against the fence, videographers holding their cameras high. Television reporters shouted.

I moved back and forth, peering between the slats. I saw Nodine in his sports shirt and shorts quickly move into the house, Lynam behind him in white dress shirt and tie.

An unidentified man in a blue plaid shirt climbed from the driver’s seat and followed them inside.

The process server was on the porch quickly and knocking at the door. No answer. She stood and knocked again and again. No answer.

Using her phone’s Bluetooth, we saw her talking. One call, then another, then another.

From the foot of the steps, I heard her.

“Yes, I’m at the front door right now,” she said. “I just need to serve you these papers.”

She paused.

“Can you just come to the door?” she asked.

A police car pulled up and a stern officer emerged. The media made sure to remain on the sidewalk. Another scout car arrived.

Then a third police car bearing a supervisor’s designation parked at the curb. He spoke with the officers and then strolled toward us. Sheepishly, he made sure we understood the rules of property rights. He was cordial, we were too as everyone knew the other was going through the motions.

Lynam had evidently called the police in an attempt to disperse us.

Finally, the officers left and the wait continued in the heat.

Neighbors passed, some curious, some displeased. My editor lived just a few hundred feet up the street and had heard anger from residents about Nodine’s relocation.

I eventually approached the process server’s SUV. When she rolled down the window, I said, “You think I’m coming to talk to you but I’m really just trying to catch some of your air conditioning.” We laughed.

She said again she couldn’t tell us why she was there, just that it wasn’t for Nodine.

We chatted. She was ready to get home to her husband.

“I’m hungry,” I said. “I just want to go eat dinner with my wife.”

“Then go,” she chuckled.

“We can’t go until you go,” I told her. “We have to stay.”

We talked about her job for a while, her years and experiences.

“I know you talked to him on the phone,” I said.

She looked up, eyes wide. “How did you hear that?”

“I’m a married man,” I said. “I have to listen.” We laughed again.

She revealed that Lynam told her he wouldn’t open the door to let her do her job until we were gone. He also knew we weren’t leaving until she did.

We tried to help come up with ideas for her to deliver the summons so we could all call it a day. She said there were avenues for Lynam to facilitate her without giving us access.

“This is just a pissing contest,” one reporter said with disgust. The general opinion of Mr. Lynam began to decline. After almost five hours waiting, she finally tired of the power play and pulled away, waving to us.

We packed up and drifted away, dodging the mosquitoes and fireflies. 

Turns out, Lynam was losing visitation rights for his children while Nodine was in the house.

Others in the community are pushing the defendant away. The construction job dried up when the business owner caught grief. Individuals have tried to set up legal defense funds but area banks won't grant them accounts for that purpose.  

A reporter’s journey to Lynam's house the following day found him talking loudly through the door with Nodine while Lynam was away. The accused killer mentioned a restraining order against the press, replete with his customary terms of casual familiarity. It was typical Nodine, trying to act chummy with media in hopes it would curry him favor.

What he doesn’t seem willing to face is that those days have passed. Nodine has little to offer anymore, few cards left to play.

He has showed his hand and all it holds are daggers, not a single crown in sight.