About 30 minutes northwest of Auburn will put you right in the heart of a small lake community.
Paul Dunmyer said, “You know it's obviously a very peaceful community. And it was quite a shock to hear that this person you know came from Dadeville.
The handful of people who call Lake Martin their permanent home say they know little about the accused tree poisoner.
Neighbors say Updyke had only been at the lake home for about 6 months. The home owner Howard Wayne Barnes says he went to high school together with Updyke in Milton, Florida.
Barnes said Updyke was born in south Texas where he served as a Texas State Trooper, until Barnes says Updyke sustained a neck injury on the job.
Once word got out, folks from around the area drove by to check out the place. James Whitman says he has lived at the lake for 6 years. He brought his camera just to take pictures of the house. He says to remember what it looked like.
Whitman said, “I just feel like something bad is going to happen. I was telling the lady a while ago about fringes, like in politics. They just fringe people in Alabama off the chart. We got some on Auburn the same way. I just don't want anybody in blue and orange to come out here and do anything stupid.”
One local bait shop owner says Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr., or Al as he called him, would come in from time to time, but never said or did anything out of the ordinary.
The cinder block home by the lake, showed no signs that an Alabama fan lived there at all.
“You know Dadeville is a lake community. And it's a very small town, good people. You know there's nothing wrong with Dadeville just because one did something crazy like this,” Dunmyer said.
There are two stores in Tallapoosa County that sell herbicide. Neither retailer carries the Spike 80DF that Auburn police believe killed the trees.
The homeowner - Howard Wayne Barnes - says he went to high school together with Updyke in Milton, Florida.
Barnes said Updyke was born in south Texas, where he served as a Texas State Trooper until Barnes says sustained a neck injury while on the job.
According to court document Updyke will have to enroll in anger management classes once realized on bond.
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