A TRIAL date for March has been set for a man arrested for Criminal Littering after he placed flowers at his fiancée’s grave.
Hannah Ford was killed in a car accident on January 17, 2021, the same day she picked out a wedding venue with her fiancé, Winchester Hagans.
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“She was the most beautiful, loving, sweet and amazing full-of-life person I had ever met,” Hagans said.
The two met in 2019 and were engaged by December 2020. Hagans remembers the last day he spent with Hannah, picking out their wedding venue in Notasulga, Alabama.
He said that he kissed Hannah goodbye before she drove home to Montgomery.
“The last things I heard her say were, ‘I love you, and I hate leaving you,’” he said.
Hanna was only 27-years-old when she was killed in a three-vehicle car crash.
“She was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We were so happy,” Hagans said.
To commemorate Hannah’s life, Hagans built a flower box covered with the couple’s engagement photos to place on Hannah’s grave at Auburn’s Memorial Park Cemetery.
According to Hagans, the couple had a strained relationship with some in Hannah’s family as someone kept throwing the flowers away.
Hagans kept rebuilding the box to put it back on Hanna’s grave. He says her family never told him directly to stay away from her grave or to stop leaving flowers.
“I know her spirit is in Heaven with Jesus, and we will be together in the new world, but this is where her body is. I just grew up being taught that graves were important,” he said.
On January 24, 2022, Hagans was stopped by police while on his way to preach at a church in east Alabama.
“The officer came back and said there was a warrant out for my arrests, handcuffed me on the side of the road on a Sunday morning,” he said.
Hannah’s father, Hayden Ford, signed a warrant for Hagan’s arrest for criminal littering. The crime can be defined as: Knowingly depositing, in any manner, litter on any public or private property or in any public or private waters, having no permission to do so.
The complaint, dated January 4, reads: “Hayden Thomas Ford is the property owner of his daughter Hannah Ford’s cemetery plot located at Memorial Park in Auburn, Alabama.
“Approximately 7 -8 flower boxes have been placed on Hannah’s gravesite without his permission. Winston Hagans has been advised not to place unauthorized items on Hannah’s grave.
“Winston has posted via social media “someone keeps throwing away the flowers I plant…but each time he throws them away, I’ll plant more.” The flower box contains photos of Winston Hagans and Hannah Ford attached around the box.”
According to the Auburn Police Department, certain burial plots are “owned and controlled by the family of the deceased and therefore are private property.
“Any citizen has a right to pursue a criminal charge upon showing sufficient probable cause exists to believe a crime has been committed.”
In a statement, Hagans’ attorney Jeff Tickal said his client has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“Rick Hagans and his family are long-time friends, and I am happy to represent Winchester in this case. Winchester is a great young man, and we are looking forward to telling his side of the story and reversing this travesty brought against him,” said Tickal.
He added that the date for the trial is March 17.
Hagans said he still visits Hannah’s grave regularly. “I just want to be able to put flowers on her grave,” he said.
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