Man accused of poisoning Toomer’s Corner trees living in a van down by the river

It looks like Harvey Updyke Jr., the man charged with poisoning the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, has finally found an attorney. After two attorneys asked to be taken off of the case due to conflict of interest, and a third also begged off because he couldn’t agree with Updyke, a fourth attorney said on the radio on Tuesday that he would take the case. Glennon Threatt Jr. said on the Birmingham-based Paul Finebaum Radio Show that he is representing the man accused of poisoning two oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn.

Threatt, who represented former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford last year, said that he would be “proud to represent him.”

Updyke’s friend, Wayne Barnes, said Updyke indeed said on Finebaum’s radio show last month that he poisoned the trees. Barnes said during Tuesday’s show that Updyke did the same on the Tider Insider website by using Barnes’ sign-on. Barnes said he didn’t believe Updyke was capable of poisoning the trees.

Barnes said Updyke is a big Alabama fan, saying Updyke ran on the field in 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl with a box of Tide detergent and toilet paper, signifying “Roll Tide.”

Barnes said he and Updyke attended Alabama’s BCS national championship win over Texas in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2009 season. He also said two of Updyke’s children are Crimson Tyde Updyke and Bear Bryant Updyke. Barnes said he wanted to name another child Ally Bama Updyke, but her mother wouldn’t let him.

Threatt said Updyke, who is free on $50,000 bond, was living in a car in the woods.

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Harvey Updyke picks up fourth defense attorney in Toomer’s Corner poisoning case [Al.com]