Former student under conditional bond for New Year’s murder

Published 9:21 pm Monday, August 25, 2014

A former Troy University student and football commit charged with the murder of another Troy student on New Year’s will be allowed to await trial at his home provided he follows 12 new conditions put in place Friday after a circuit court hearing.

The conditional bond came just days after grand jury indicted of Taylor Driggers for two counts of murder for the death of 18-year-old Luverne native Kristin Fuller.

“One count for intentional murder and one count for reckless murder,” explained District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer. “We can try the whole case and before it goes to the jury, we’ll decide which case was made.”

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Driggers and Fuller were at a New Year’s party this past January when Fuller was killed by a single shot, fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, Tesmer said shortly after the incident. The shooting took place at a residence on County Road 29 between Troy and Luverne some time between midnight and 4:30 that morning.

While no toxicology information has been released, “apparently there had been some drinking of alcohol earlier in the evening,” said Tesmer in January.

Driggers, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, was a part of Brantley High School’s 2012 15-0 State Championship team and had planned to play football at Troy University next season, where he and Fuller were students.

Fuller graduated from Crenshaw Christian Academy in 2013.

Bond was set at $100,000 in January, and Driggers was placed under house arrest. After this month’s indictment, Circuit Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell issued stricter conditions for Driggers’ house arrest.

Driggers will be required to remain in Crenshaw County unless the court gives him written consent and must live with his parents or grandparents. A parent or grandparent has to accompany him when he is away from home.

The only reasons Driggers can leave home are for a court appearance; legal or medical appointment; church service; or to go to work. If he is employed, he has to provide a written work schedule to the court. Driggers’ commute to and from work is the only one he can make without a chaperone.

Driggers will be arrested if he is found drinking alcohol or consuming any illegal substance, in possession of a firearm, commits a criminal offense or fails to appear or answer orders of the court.

Provided both sides are ready to proceed, Driggers will return to court in November.

“We’ll be ready to go in November,” said Tesmer. “We don’t know if the defense will be ready to go.”