By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
A Montgomery judge has denied a request from a former Alabama State University student to withdraw his guilty plea in the 2020 murder of fellow student Adam “Belle” Dowdell, a case that continues to weigh heavily on the community.
Ivry Hall, 25, pleaded guilty last month in the fatal shooting of Dowdell, a 22-year-old sophomore remembered as kind-hearted and full of promise. Hall’s attorney argued the plea was made under pressure following a late evidentiary ruling, but Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid denied the motion. Sentencing is now set for April 13.
Dowdell was reported missing in September 2020 before his body was discovered less than a quarter mile from campus. An autopsy revealed he died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Investigators later determined Hall fled to Chicago after the shooting and disclosed details of the crime to a priest, leading authorities to Dowdell’s body.
The case has drawn attention not only for the tragic loss of a young life, but also for Hall’s past—once celebrated as a student who overcame adversity to become a valedictorian and leader on campus.
For many in Alabama, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of trust, safety, and accountability. Dowdell’s mother, Toya Cohill, has urged young people to be mindful of their relationships, warning, “Make sure the person you call your friend is really your friend.”
As sentencing approaches, the community continues to seek justice while remembering a life gone too soon.