Jose Antonio Alvarado, 18, Arrested for Murder After Man Found Dead in Graysville House Fire
JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (May 30, 2025) — Authorities in Jefferson County have confirmed that a man who was found dead inside a burning home in Graysville earlier this week was the victim of a homicide. On Friday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect from Elkmont, now facing serious felony charges in connection with the crime.
Jose Antonio Alvarado, 18, has been charged with murder and second-degree arson, according to a press release issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Alvarado was taken into custody on Thursday following a multi-agency investigation and was officially booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 6:05 p.m. He is being held without bond.
The case began on the evening of Sunday, May 25, when firefighters from Graysville and neighboring Adamsville were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 500 block of Seventh Avenue S.W. at approximately 9:30 p.m.
When crews arrived on scene, they found the residence fully engulfed in flames. Despite swift efforts to bring the blaze under control, a tragic discovery was made once the fire was extinguished: a male victim was found deceased inside the charred structure. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:17 p.m.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the victim’s identity, citing the need to confirm notification of next of kin before any public disclosure.
In the aftermath of the fire, detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, along with agents from the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office, launched an intensive investigation. Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances leading up to the man’s death, but after several days of investigative work, they were able to identify Alvarado as a suspect.
So far, investigators have not publicly disclosed the motive behind the killing or whether there was any known relationship between Alvarado and the victim. Likewise, details surrounding how the fire was set and what ultimately caused the victim’s death remain under investigation. Authorities have only confirmed that the victim was intentionally killed, and the fire was deliberately set afterward.
“This was not an accidental fire,” a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said. “Evidence collected at the scene and through subsequent interviews led us to conclude that this was an act of arson intended to cover up a homicide.”
This tragic incident marks the 48th homicide in Jefferson County so far this year, underscoring a troubling trend of violence in the area. The Sheriff’s Office said they are continuing to pursue leads and are urging members of the public who may have seen anything suspicious that night or who have any relevant information to come forward.
How to Help:
Anyone with tips that may assist detectives in their investigation is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 325-1450, or to provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.
As the community mourns yet another life lost to violence, officials stress that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Further updates, including the release of the victim’s identity and possible court proceedings involving the suspect, are expected in the coming days.