Murder victim a motorcycle gang member

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Two men have been arrested in Tuscaloosa in connection to a Baldwin County murder.

Adam Mayton of Newburn, Ala. and Fred 'Shooter' Weiss of Northport, Ala. are being held on murder warrants.

Deputies said 54-year-old Samuel Henry Dixson of Milton, Fla. was found in a ditch Wednesday, September 12 near the Styx River and County Road 68 area.

Authorities said the victim and suspects were members of the Devil's Devil's Diciples motorcycle gang.

    The group's website clarifies their spelling of 'Diciple' as: "Our Original members intentionally mis-spelled "disciples" to "diciples" so as to distance ourselves from religious affiliation."    

"The sheriff's office, as well as several municipal police agencies in Baldwin County, have been following an increased presence of motorcycle gangs. And what it appears is Baldwin county has become a meeting site for some of these gangs, not necessarily a residence-type site," said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey 'Hoss' Mack.

Authorities said they believe the motive for murder is related to a squabble within the motorcycle gang.

Deputies said Dixson was reported missing by his wife on Monday, September 10. His truck was found in Escambia County the same day, with his walking cane inside.

Officials said Mayton and Weiss walked into the Robertsdale Police Department on Tuesday, September 11. They said they wanted to turn themselves into authorities on a homicide. They asked for a lawyer and after speaking to one, said they would not provide any information on the case.

One man was taken to Thomas Hospital for injuries related to blunt force trauma. Both men were allowed to leave.

Dixson's body was found the following day.

Warrants were issued for Mayton and Weiss. They were arrested and taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Authorities said an early morning fire on Monday is related to the Devil's Diciples motorcycle gang. They say a trailer that was destroyed in the fire was the club house for the Alabama chapter of the gang. Sheriff Mack believes the trailer was set on fire to possibly get rid of evidence.

Herb McKinnon lives down the block from the trailer. He said he's seen activity there for about five months.

"People coming in and out. They didn't really get drunk and rowdy like I thought they were going to do when they first came. I guess that they had a little celebration party when they first got here," he said.

Robby Pounds lives across the street from the club house.

"I didn't have an issue until now. When somebody's getting murdered, that's a little scarier than someone having a party," he said.

Sheriff Mack said the story may not end here.

"We do believe that there were more people involved in this, either in the murder, or the covering of this crime," the sheriff said.