Barry Moore

The sister of a murdered Alabama police chief says Rep. Barry Moore is misrepresenting her family’s tragedy as he runs for Senate.

Brenda Barnes criticized a recent ad from a group supporting Moore.

“It’s sad that Barry Moore is using this and exploiting our loss,” Barnes said.

The ad, paid for by the Alabama Freedom Fund, criticizes one of Moore’s opponents, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. It calls him a “soft-on-crime prosecutor who also let a cop killer remain eligible for parole.”

Barnes’ brother, Grant Police Chief Verlon LeMaster, was killed in 2003. Marshall, then the district attorney in Marshall County, prosecuted two 17-year-olds for the murder.

One teen was sentenced to life without parole. The other, Jerid Eldridge, was convicted of intentional murder and received life in prison with the possibility of parole. He remains in prison.

Barnes praised Marshall’s work on the case and said he continued to show up in person when Eldridge’s applications for parole were considered.

“When my brother was shot and killed, Steve Marshall came to the scene,” she said. “I think a lot of Steve, and he was there when no one else was.”

“I would appreciate it if they’re continuing to run the ad, that they would take it down,” Barnes said.

Barry Moore’s campaign and Steve Marshall’s campaign did not return requests for comment Thursday.

READ MORE: Sick of high electricity bills? Alabama U.S. Senate candidate shows his disgust by shooting his bill

Marshall was initially a Democrat when he was first appointed as a local prosecutor in 2001. He switched parties in 2011.

The Alabama Freedom Fund is supported by Club for Growth, which has endorsed Moore.

The race between Republican candidates remains competitive with one month remaining until the May 19 primary.

The Senate seat is open because Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.

The general election is Nov. 3.