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…
Author: Staff Reports
Diana Jacobs was sentenced to 10 years in prison today in Coffee County Superior Court after pleading guilty earlier this month to concealing a death and exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult. Jacobs has been incarcerated in the Coffee County Jail for nearly two years on charges related to the death of Alexander Hunter, 67, whose body was found buried in a shed behind Rosewood Manor assisted living facility in Nicholls. Though she was initially charged with malice murder, Jacobs was never indicted. Jacobs testified in court to the events surrounding the night she buried Mr. Hunter in the…
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…
A 41-year-old Alma woman and a 16-year-old male juvenile were arrested Thursday in connection to a case involving severe injuries sustained by a 21-month-old child. Alice Herrington has been charged with one count of party to the crime for failing to notify law enforcement regarding the injuries sustained by the victim. The male juvenile , also of Alma, was detained for one count of battery, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of first degree cruelty to children. He is currently being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center in Waycross. Alma police state they will be asking…
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…
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“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…