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Youthful offender hearing takes place for a Hartford teen accused of manslaughter

Photo of William Birdsong

GENEVA COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) — On Wednesday afternoon, a youthful offender hearing was held for a 19-year-old Hartford teen charged with manslaughter.

The manslaughter charge came from an incident in a June 2021 wreck that killed a Panhandle woman and seriously injured a second woman.

In addition to manslaughter, William Jackson Birdsong is charged with second-degree assault in relation to the three-car pileup, he allegedly caused when his car struck another in a construction zone on State Highway 167, just south of Hartford.

WDHN has learned through a source who wishes to remain anonymous that the presiding judge has taken the defense request for Birdsong to receive youthful offender status under advisement, and will later make a decision.

Update: Geneva co. Superintendent’s son may have been under the influence during deadly crash, court records

If Birdsong does receive youthful offender status, the case will be sealed from the media and the public.

William Jackson Birdsong is also the son of Geneva County Schools Superintendent, Becky Birdsong.