More than 8 years after the body of a Cullman County native and his dog were found dead inside a burned pickup truck in Walker County, two people have been indicted in the cold case.

The bodies of Eric Cates, 32, and his beloved dog, Gypsy, were found near the old Empire School building in 2015.

Joshua Franklin Hill, 33, and Cyerena Cheyenne Styles, 28, both of Walker County, have been charged in the Cold Springs’ graduate’s murder.

Cates’ mother, Tobbie Stover, posted to her Facebook page, thanking those involved in the investigation and arrests.

“I want to express our appreciation to the Alabama State Attorney General Steve Marshall, his investigators, legal team and staff that has made these arrests possible, along with the Sumiton Chief of Police TJ Burnett and the Sumiton Police Department. Had it not been for Secrets True Crime, Echo 7Foxtrot and Chief TJ Burnett, I doubt seriously if we would be reading about the arrests today. Again, Thank everyone for a job well done.”

The attorney general’s office investigated the case at the request of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

Marshall’s office announced Friday that Hill and Styles were each indicted on one count of murder. Styles was arrested by the Sumiton Police Department, and Hill was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

A statement from the AG’s office thanked law enforcement involved in the investigation.

“On Oct. 5, 2023, Attorney General Marshall’s Special Prosecutions and Criminal Trials Divisions, in partnership with the Sumiton Police Department and former agents of Walker County Sheriff’s Office, presented evidence to a Walker County grand jury which resulted in Hill’s indictment on one count of murder and Styles’ indictment on one count of murder.”

If convicted of murder, a Class A felony, both Hill and Styles would face a range of punishment from not less than 10 years to not more than 99 years or life imprisonment.

Stover talked about her son to The Times in April 2015, a month after his murder.

“Eric was such a happy guy, and so devoted to his dog. Gypsy was his baby,” she said. “He’d told me more than once that was my granddaughter. If you ever went through the drive-thru, Gypsy always had to get her food first.”

Stover also talked then about the hopes of an arrest.

“It’s very important for us to get closure. To have someone you love done this way. …,” she said. “To get closure means we’ll get the people who did this away from society to stop them from doing this again.”