(MOBILE, Ala.) Investigators will have to discover how and why 25-year old Justin Hasty died in his house on Caroline Ave.
It will be up to prosecutors to press the case against his friend, 26 year old Brandon Estle, and up to Estle's attorney to defend him.
But as all of those players position themselves in this case, the families of both men brace themselves for what is to come.
And it is easily evident that both are hurting... terribly.
This morning, Mobile police officer Mike Johnston, a cousin of Hasty, traded his uniform for civilian clothes to speak on behalf of the slain man's family.
"We would like to thank the Mobile Police Department for the professional and swift manner in which they conducted Justin's case," said Johnston. "Justin will be greatly missed by his many friends and family. We want to thank the community for their continued support, and your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as we deal with the loss of our son and our brother. Thank you."
Carefully chosen words in a difficult time.
Such is also the case for the Estle family.
Brandon Estle's father, Doug Estle agreed to speak with Local 15 with the understanding that he could express the anguish and grief he and his wife feel right now... not just for their own son's situation, but for the loss of Justin Hasty.
"Definitely our thoughts are with the other family," said Doug Estle. "He was a student of ours at Murphy High School, he's been a guest in our home, a friend of our son. He comes from a great family. We truly grieve for the Hastys and wish that there was more we could do to reach out and we will any which way we can."
An autopsy was conducted on Justin Hasty, but the arrest report already projected the cause of death- blunt force trama.
There will be a bond hearing for Brandon Estle Thursday morning.
He was already on informal probation for a d-u-i last year.
And that could have a bearing on the judges decision.
