Detective talks about Whisenhant case

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Sgt. Larry Tillman retired from the Mobile County Sheriff's Office in 1993 and now lives in Louisiana. He says a stroke has affected his memory, but there's one case he can never forget.

"I will never forget the chase I made on Whisenhant. I never will forget that as long as I live," Tillman said.

Thomas Whisenhant is the longest serving death row inmate in Alabama.

"I had no idea. I couldn't believe it. It's been over 30 years," Tillman said.

The Alabama Supreme Court is expected to set a date for the serial killers execution soon.

Tillman is the detective responsible for capturing Whisenhant.

He spotted a suspicious pickup while searching for the young store clerk's body.

"While I was talking on the radio, I was at the bottom of a hill. I looked in my rear view mirror, and I saw a white pickup come up behind me, and make a turn, then head out. When that happened, I started to radio the sheriff's office," Tillman said.

Tillman chased Whisenhant across southern Mobile County for more than 20 minutes.

"I went straight down Bayou La Batre Highway where you turn to get to race track. I happened to look down there and saw a glimpse of something. So I backed up, and when I hit the railroad tracks at 90 miles per hour, it busted my oil pan" he said.

Whisenhant killed 23-year-old Cheryl Payton, just one day before she planned to quit her job at the Compac store. Family members said the mother of two was worried about her safety after she had heard about two other murder victims.

Tillman said Whisenhant confessed to killing Vernora Hyatt and Patrick Hitt. Both were convenience store clerks.

Tillman said police had already charged two other men with Hitt's murder.

"When they came along and found her dead, they took the money out of the cash register. They didn't have anything to do with it. Just so happen Whisenhant confessed to that too," he added.

Tillman is certain if Whisenhant had not been captured he would have killed again.

"Definitely no doubt about it, he already killed three that we know of," Tillman said.

Tillman said he wasn't the only one involved in the capture of Thomas Whisenhant. But if Tillman had not stuck with the chase, Whisenhant may have gotten away that night.