Author: Staff Reports

The Georgia Department of Corrections currently houses 38 death row inmates. Thirty-seven are male, one is female. And one was sentenced in Coffee County. Ashley Lyndol Jones, now 49, has been on Georgia’s death row since June 19, 1995, after he was convicted for the brutal murder of Keith Holland, 39, of Coffee County, on March 31, 1993. The events that led to Holland’s death actually began in Ware County on March 30, when Jones and an accomplice, Allen Bunner, and three others were riding around drinking in a stolen vehicle. They had stolen…

District 2 County Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens has announced his intention to seek a sixth term as commissioner. He released the following statement: “I, Jimmy Kitchens, am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election as County Commissioner for Coffee County District 2 in the upcoming November general election. I have had the honor of serving District 2 and Coffee County for the past 19 years. “A lifelong resident of Coffee County, I am married to Beth Kitchens, with whom I share three children – Kristen, Justen, and Hannah. We also have a 6-year-old grandson named Beckham. In my leisure time, I…

On February 3, 2024, just before 3:30 a.m., Douglas police officers responded to the Comfortel Inn on North Peterson Avenue in reference to a domestic incident and possible hostage situation. Upon arrival, an officer spoke with a witness who said that he heard a commotion coming from a room, according to a report from the Douglas Police Department. He looked into the room, the report says, and he saw an individual identified as Marcus Winn, 44, of Douglas, standing in front of the door blocking it while a female was trying get out with three children. …

It’s been a few weeks since severe weather rolled through Coffee County. That streak should end this afternoon. Shortly after lunch, another squall line will pass through South Georgia, bringing high winds and potentially heavy rainfall. Winds could gust between 50-70 mph with non-thunderstorm winds approaching 40 mph. Isolated tornadoes are also a possibility. The storms are moving west to east and are predicted to get to Coffee County between 1-3 p.m. These kinds of weather systems don’t typically hang around for very long – move in quickly, do their damage, then are gone equally quickly.…

Last week, officers with the Coffee County Drug Unit served a search warrant and made one arrest on cocaine charges. On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, as officers served the search warrant at an Alderman Drive address, they saw Marquavious Deundre Walker, 23, whom they knew was on probation, leaving the home. They stopped him and found that he had $618. They then searched his home and found suspected cocaine, digital scales, and $2,500. He was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He is still in jail.

A 40-year-old Douglas man remains in jail after he allegedly assaulted an elderly female repeatedly over the course of several days, according to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office. On January 30, 2024, a deputy responded to Bear Creek Road to what was initially reported as a domestic dispute. The report states that the deputy opened the back door of the home and saw a man identified as James Wesley Harris, 40, standing over an elderly woman screaming at her. The deputy ordered Harris outside and noticed two spots of blood on his face.…

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld Wallace Lee’s double murder conviction. In 2015, Lee was convicted of killing Meghan Bowen, 33, and Carlos Harden, 39. Lee had been in a volatile and violent relationship with Bowen prior to her death. Bowen and Harden were killed on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at 38 Meadowbrook Lane. Lee was arrested the following day and charged with two counts of murder. In 2016, he was convicted of both murders after a two and a half day trial. The jury deliberated just 35 minutes before rendering their verdict. Last year, Lee’s…

Legendary country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith passed away Monday night following an 18-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 62. Keith, born Toby Keith Covel in on July 8, 1961 in Clinton Oklahoma, burst onto the music in 1993 with his debut single “Should Have Been a Cowboy.” He went on to release 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums. Keith has sold over 40 million albums, charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, had 20 number one hits, and 22 other top 10 singles. Keith received numerous awards and…

Robert Alan Britton, 47, of Douglas, has had an eventful week and a half. According to records from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Britton has been arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail three times since January 26, 2024. Records show he was arrested on criminal trespass charges on January 26 around 3:30 a.m. He was arrested again on January 28 at 7 a.m. on a disorderly conduct charge. His third arrest was on February 4 at 9 a.m. for simple battery. DouglasNow obtained a report for the January 28 incident. According to that report,…

On January 26, 2024, Douglas police officers carried a wanted suspect out of a home and placed him in a squad car after he wouldn’t walk on his own power, according to a report from the police department. The report states that on the above date, officers went to a home on East Baker Highway in reference to a wanted individual. The suspect was Charles Jerome Witherspoon, Jr., 36, of Douglas. After speaking with people at the home, the officers went inside and found Witherspoon in a bedroom. One officer handcuffed Witherspoon but the report states that Witherspoon…