Author: Staff Reports

Within the past week, the GBI Crime Lab’s drug identification unit received three cases from separate seizures of the synthetic drug Carfentanil, which is commonly used as a tranquilizer on large animals such as elephants. Carfentanil is purported to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and is suspected of playing a role in hundreds of overdoses in the midwestern part of the country this past month. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and is very toxic in small quantities. The cases received at the GBI lab were from the metro Atlanta area and were all initially…

Coffee County sheriff’s officials provided detailed information Monday regarding a shooting that ultimately led to the death of one man over the weekend. Just prior to 8 p.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies responded to 65 Willow Way after being notified by 911 of a domestic violence call that had resulted in a man being shot. 911 advised officers the female caller, identified as 61-year-old Brenda Davis, stated she had used a gun to stop her daughter’s boyfriend, who was armed with a knife, from taking her daughter’s life. Deputies located the still-breathing male, 27-year-old Roger Cameron Cochran, and rendered aid until…

A Coffee County jury convicted Victor Hodges today for the murder of Julia Mae Simpson after a four day jury trial. Assistant District Attorney John Rumker prosecuted the case. Julie Mae Simpson was found dead in her home the morning of June 7, 2013. Despite being savagely beaten about the head with a stereo speaker, the Georgia Crime Lab medical examiner determined that Ms. Simpson’s death was actually caused by strangulation. Testimony at trial showed that several items owned by Ms. Simpson were found to be in Hodge’s possession beginning that very night. Further testimony from Crime Lab experts showed…

Two teenagers were hospitalized with serious injuries following a head-on collision that also claimed the life of a 57-year-old man Thursday morning. The driver of one of the vehicles, identified as Gary Powell, lost his life in the accident, which occurred just after 7 a.m. on New Forest Hwy. An 18-year-old man in another vehicle, Cameron Porter, was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center with multiple fractures to his face and right leg. A 14-year-old passenger in Porter’s vehicle was airlifted to a Savannah hospital after suffering head injuries. Officials with the Georgia State Patrol say the accident remains under…

A 22-year-old mother has been charged with multiple felonies after Alma authorities were called to a local hospital Wednesday to investigate severe injuries sustained by a young child. Officials state the 21-month-old female victim sustained severe bruising over her entire body and was transported to Memorial Health hospital in Savannah due to the nature of her injuries. The child then underwent surgery that involved the removal of at least one organ. Authorities say the child remains in in critical condition. The mother, Sarah Staten, was taken into custody at Bacon County Hospital. Two other children, both under the age of…

Derby Waters, Jesup native and a reporter with the Wayne County-based Press-Sentinel, has been named the recipient of the Satilla Riverkeeper 2016 Conservationist of the Year award. The Satilla RiverWatch Alliance Board of Directors presented its highest award to Waters at their 12th Annual Satilla Riverkeeper Gala on August 20 at the Stricklands Satilla Lodge on the banks of the Blackwater River in Brantley County. Derby received this award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the organization’s efforts to protect and restore the beautiful Satilla River, his investigative journalism on environmental issues of South Georgia, and for his role…

“I am literally begging my friends and family to share this. With 22 veterans committing suicide every day, the vet you reach may be the one that gives life one more chance and comes to our hunt where he can open up about his situation and meet a network of people willing to help.” These are the words of Coffee County resident David McSwain who has joined forces with another Georgia resident to establish an outlet for struggling veterans to engage with others battling similar circumstances. Southeastern Veterans Hunt is an organization that focuses on giving back to military veterans…

A Douglas man was jailed Thursday following an incident earlier this week in which he allegedly fired multiple gunshots at residence following an argument over a drug debt. Coffee County deputies responded to the area of 75 Second Avenue in the Oak Park area just before 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 in reference to a report of aggravated assault. Deputies spoke with an individual, identified as Sylvester Miller, who stated an altercation had occurred between him and another man, Michael Weldon. Miller stated they had been drinking, and fist fight ensued when the two got into an argument over money…

A pharmacy technician with the Douglas Wal-Mart store has been jailed after allegedly switching pain medications of customers with acetaminophen. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported today that local drug agents entered into a joint investigation with the Georgia Bureau of Narcotics on Aug. 4. The two agencies were reacting to a complaint from the Wal-Mart pharmacy and Wal-Mart loss prevention associates regarding the improper handling and/or theft of controlled substances. Investigators discovered that 38-year-old Jennifer Herdner of Ambrose, a Wal-Mart pharmacy technician, had on at least three occasions switched prescription pain medications for acetaminophen. Herdner has been…

Alma police reported Wednesday the arrest of two people wanted in connection to passing thousands of dollars in forged checks in the area. The arrests came following a 10-day search for the suspects. Amy and Franklin Gregg Thornton were wanted after APD discovered the couple had forged 17 checks at Parker’s Food Mart and three checks at Jay’s IGA; cash received from the fraudulent checks exceeded $7,000. The pair had returned to Jay’s IGA and were in the process of receiving funds through a forged Western Union document against the victim of the stolen checks when they were arrested. …