Tragedy Repeats: Calvin Dewayne Ball Found Dead in Burning Vehicle in Birmingham — Echoes Son’s Unsolved 2024 Death
BIRMINGHAM, AL — In a haunting and heartbreaking twist of fate, a father has died in the same horrific manner as his son did less than a year ago. Calvin Dewayne Ball, 44, of Bessemer, was discovered late Wednesday night inside a burning vehicle in southwest Birmingham — a tragic scene eerily reminiscent of the 2024 killing of his son, Ja’Calvin Demond Ball, whose own death remains unsolved.
Authorities responded to the 800 block of Sydney Drive just before midnight following multiple reports of a vehicle fire. Once the flames were extinguished by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, emergency responders discovered Calvin’s body inside. The Birmingham Police Department has since launched a homicide investigation.
While the official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, early indications suggest foul play. Investigators are now probing the disturbing possibility that Calvin’s death may be connected to — or at the very least, tragically mirrored — that of his son, who was also found dead in a burning vehicle last year in a still-cold case that has long haunted the Ball family.
A Family Shattered by Repeated Loss
The Ball family has now endured the unimaginable — not one, but two violent deaths, each involving eerily similar circumstances. Ja’Calvin, who was just 20 years old, was found deceased in a torched vehicle in Birmingham in 2024. Despite extensive investigation and public pleas for information, no arrests have been made, and no clear motive has ever been determined.
Now, with Calvin’s death echoing that horrific event, grief has given way to alarm. Community members, loved ones, and city leaders are all asking the same question: Why this family?
Calvin was described by friends and relatives as a devoted father, a hardworking man, and someone who never truly recovered from the loss of his son. “He was never the same after Ja’Calvin died,” one close family friend said. “He was grieving every day — asking for justice, waiting for answers that never came. And now this… it’s like lightning struck twice in the cruelest way.”
A Community in Mourning — And Demanding Justice
News of Calvin’s death has stunned the Birmingham and Bessemer communities. Vigils and memorials are already being organized in both cities, where the Ball family is well known and deeply respected.
Birmingham Police officials say they are now revisiting Ja’Calvin’s case in light of Calvin’s death. “We are looking very closely at any and all potential links,” said a spokesperson for the department. “We owe this family answers. They’ve suffered enough.”
In both cases, the use of fire has complicated investigations, often destroying potential forensic evidence. Still, detectives remain hopeful that someone, somewhere, may have seen something or know something that can help break the silence around these crimes.
Community leaders are also stepping up, calling on residents to come forward with any information that could assist investigators. Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777, with potential rewards available.
Remembering Calvin Dewayne Ball
Beyond the headlines, Calvin Ball was a man with a story — a father who loved his son deeply, a family man with roots in his community. Those close to him recall his quiet strength, his resilience in the face of grief, and the pain he carried while trying to make sense of his son’s tragic death.
Now, those same loved ones are left to grieve again — two devastating losses, a year apart, with more questions than answers.
“He just wanted justice for Ja’Calvin,” said a family member. “Now we have to fight for justice for both of them.”
Final Thoughts
The deaths of Calvin Dewayne Ball and his son Ja’Calvin Demond Ball are painful reminders of the human toll behind homicide statistics and cold cases. These are lives lost, futures stolen, and families forever broken. As the community reels from this second tragedy, the hope remains that someone will step forward — that truth will prevail, and that justice will finally be served.
Rest in Peace, Calvin and Ja’Calvin Ball.
Your family and community will not stop seeking the answers you deserve.