Alabama AM owner who made news about stolen tower has died at 41

WJLX owner Brett Elmore has died at age 41. The broadcaster confirmed his death on social media on Tuesday. Elmore made headlines around the world earlier this year when he reported that the station’s 200-foot tower had been stolen without a trace.

WJLX wrote: “It is with heavy hearts that we officially announce the passing of owner and station manager Brett Elmore. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Elmore family.” Elmore owned the station since 2008 and was actively involved in his own radio show. He also provided play-by-play commentary for the Jasper Vikings football team, a role previously held by his father, Johnny Elmore, for over 40 years.

No cause of death was reported.

Two weeks after rural AM went off the air due to the disappearance of its 200-foot tower, the station returned with the help of iHeartMedia. In early February, a landscaping crew discovered the site was destroyed, the support wires had been severed and the entire 3,500-pound structure was gone.

The cost to replace the uninsured tower was estimated at $60,000 to $100,000.

After the FCC rejected Elmore’s request to broadcast exclusively through its FM translator, iHeart provided an HD signal to WJLX, allowing the station to temporarily broadcast on Birmingham’s WDXB-HD3. This also allowed WJLX to resume local broadcasts on 101.5 FM via a translator.

The case still needs to be solved.