Former district attorney appointed to Nodine case

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - David Whetstone was appointed by the Alabama Attorney General to prosecute the Steve Nodine case. He is Baldwin County’s former longtime district attorney.

There will be a familiar face in the courtroom if Steve Nodine has a retrial. It will be longtime Baldwin County District Attorney David whetstone. Whetstone was appointed to the DA’s office more than 25 years ago, in 1984. He lives in Gulf Shores and retired in 2006.

Whetstone continues to serve Alabama as a supernumerary, or a fill-in attorney, when he is needed. Whetstone said he has kept busy working on cases since retiring. He said he has followed the Nodine case closely since the beginning.

“I’ve discussed with them my theories of the case based upon my review of the case, and the facts prove what I believe to be the truth of the matter. That's what lawyers do," said Whetstone.

Whetstone has tried high profile cases in the past, including the 2005 death of a newborn baby. The newborn was found in a hole behind an Orange Beach home. Whetstone referred to the case as "A mother who decided not to care about the baby she was about to burn."

The mother later confessed to murdering her baby and was sentenced to 15 years. In 2004, he prosecuted Fred “Hollywood" Barkley who was accused of attacking his wealthy wife, Louise Hearin, and fought against attempts to get Hearin to testify.

“We aren't going to let that happen in Baldwin county. We aren't going to be like California. We're going to be like Baldwin County, Alabama. We’re going to resist any attempt to injure the victim after they have already been injured," he said.

In interviews, Whetstone said he believes strongly in truth and justice, and that's what he expects to get in the Nodine case.

The Downs family told FOX10 News Thursday, October 20: “Our family is very pleased that the Attorney General’s office has taken this case and that Mr. Whetstone has been appointed as the special prosecutor in the pursuit of justice for Angel.”