Accused Kidnappers Of Elton B. Stephens Indicted

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A man and woman accused of kidnapping Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens were indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 32, each were charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of kidnapping.

According to the indictment, on September 11, Burke and Hodges traveled to Stephens' residence in the Redmont Park neighborhood of Birmingham and unlawfully entered his home. They reportedly abducted him and transported him to a residence in Remlap, Alabama, in an effort to obtain ransom money in the amount of $250,000.

A wire transfer in the amount of $250,000 was sent to a bank account belonging to Hodges, according to the police report. After receiving the ransom money, Burke and Hodges transported Stephens back to his residence and released him, court records show. Burke reportedly told him that his family would be killed if he called the police about the kidnapping or the ransom.

Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens, Sr., who started EBSCO Industries in the 1940s and became one of the most successful businessmen in Alabama history. Stephens, Jr. most recently served as general manager of EBSCO Realty.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for kidnapping is up to life in prison.

FBI and United States Secret Service investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and Mountain Brook Police Department.