Mobile County Circuit Judge Jay York declared a mistrial on Friday in the rape case of Morris Linson Jr. after the jury reported it was deadlocked on all three charges, according to Fox 10.
During jury questioning, Judge York asked each juror individually whether additional deliberation would be helpful. Every juror responded “no,” leading the judge to dismiss the case.
Jury foreman Scott Goff said the panel was evenly split from the start of deliberations and that discussions became heated. He noted the deliberations lasted just over an hour before jurors informed the judge of the deadlock.
Linson, 39, a pharmaceutical salesman originally from Pensacola who now resides in Huntsville, remains free on bail. Prosecutors allege that in September 2021 he abducted an 18‑year‑old woman from the parking lot of Troubadours Country Saloon on Airport Boulevard, took her to his company‑issued Chevrolet Equinox, and later moved her to a pickup truck at the University of South Alabama campus. The woman, who was reportedly too intoxicated to consent, later said she had no memory of the night beyond going to the bar.
During the trial, Linson testified that he went to the bar to meet friends, left when they did not appear, and only intervened after hearing the woman ask for help. Surveillance video shows Linson lifting the woman from a Mazda 3 and placing her in his Equinox; university security footage later captured him loading her into a pickup truck. No interior video of the Equinox exists.
Defense attorney Megan Allgood argued that the case contained “a lot of issues,” pointing to evidentiary gaps such as an insufficient DNA sample from the victim’s underwear and the absence of a blood‑alcohol‑content test. She also highlighted a perceived racial divide among jurors, noting that African‑American jurors expressed doubt that prosecutors proved the case.
Juror Goff echoed these concerns, saying some jurors wanted more DNA evidence and a BAC result, and that the lack of additional video from Troubadours hindered their decision‑making. He also mentioned that one juror was replaced on Friday due to a scheduling conflict, though the substitution did not change the overall dynamics.
Mobile County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Susman said prosecutors are confident in their evidence and intend to retry the case, stating, “We feel very confident in the strength of our evidence, and we are ready and able to try the case again.”
What’s next: The prosecution plans to file a new indictment and schedule a retrial, though a specific date has not yet been set. Linson will continue to be released on bail while awaiting the next proceedings.
Sources: fox10tv.com
