Doctor’s sister in “throuple” believes he was killed out of jealousy as boyfriend remains on the run

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The sister of a 31-year-old PhD student killed last week in Alabama believes her brother was killed by his boyfriend out of jealousy and possessiveness.

Deundray Cottrell, of Atlanta, disappeared in Birmingham on July 4 while visiting family on vacation with her boyfriend Julian Taylor Morris, 31.

His body was found two days later in a shed near the home of his sister, Angelica Harris, and his death was ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made.

A murder investigation was launched and Morris was named a person of interest. A search for Morris, who has ties to Texas, Miami and New Jersey, is ongoing.

Harris told Al.com on Wednesday that her brother had an affair with Morris and another man, DeEric Williams. Cottrell and Williams had been together for 14 years, according to his sister, and Morris became part of the group three years ago. All three men lived together and worked together.

“From what I understand, Julian was starting to cause problems between Deundray and De Eric,” Harris told Al.com. “It would start arguments that would isolate DeEric and Deundray from each other.”

Cottrell, Morris and Williams have described themselves on Instagram as Atlanta’s hottest trio of male creative performers and event hosts.

Williams, who did not travel to Birmingham, reacted to the news of Cottrell’s death on Facebook.

“My whole heart was ripped out of my body. Good people hurt. I wish I’d never let you go to Birmingham without me. No one can ever replace you,” he wrote.

At the time of his death, Cottrell was working on his Ph.D. He previously attended Jacksonville State University.

Harris told WSB-TV that he last saw his brother at 10 p.m. on July 4 after he went upstairs to check on his dog during the fireworks. Morris disappeared around the same time, she said.

She said it was Morris who then alerted her that her brother was missing.

Morris allegedly told Angelica that her brother jumped off the patio balcony and then “took off running.”

But when the family started looking for him, she said Morris’ behavior was strange. “While we looked – Julian didn’t,” she told the TV station. “At one point, when everyone was looking, Julian made a plate and he was sitting there eating and he looked at me and said, OMG, the food is so good.”

Birmingham police officers said they were dispatched to a missing person at a residence in the 7900 block of 4th Avenue South on July 4.

Doorbell cameras in the area later revealed Cottrell running through backyards and jumping over a gate the night he disappeared.

“He looked like he was looking for refuge,” Angelica told Al.com. “Running for his life.”

On July 5, police recovered some of Cottrell’s clothing from the area, and a neighbor provided officers with surveillance footage of him.

Officers discovered Cottrell’s body the next day in a detached shed in the backyard of an abandoned residence.

“The details of this investigation are suspect,” Birmingham police said.

Victor Revill, an attorney representing Morris, told al.com that he is a “college-educated veteran who faithfully served his country as a Marine. He has no prior felony or misdemeanor convictions.”

He continued: “Despite the false narratives being promulgated about him in this situation, he loved Deundray Cottrell and is currently grieving the death of his loved one. Mr. Morris also wants answers and awaits those answers after a full and thorough investigation has been completed.”