Caleb White, a suspect wanted in the murder of Demon Parrish, was captured Tuesday after a brief standoff with officers in North Augusta.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, several North Augusta investigators were assisting the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force as they watched an apartment in the 200 building of Plaza Place Apartments. The North Augusta SWAT team was notified about the 21-year-old suspect being in the building and they responded to assist.  Negotiators began trying to make contact with the suspect and the female inside the apartment.

“After about an hour, contact was made and negotiators were able to talk them into coming out of the apartment,” North Augusta Public Safety Lt. Clay Swann said in a press release. “At that time the male suspect, Caleb Jamar White, was placed under arrest and transported to North Augusta CID for questioning by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Investigators. “

Richmond County authorities obtained a murder warrant against White on Feb. 20, three days after Parrish’s body was found in a wooded area of Aiken County. An autopsy shows he was shot to death.

White was transported to Aiken County Detention Center on Tuesday night to await extradition back to Richmond County.

Parrish was found Feb. 17 in a wooded area off 3595 Silver Bluff Road near Atomic Road in Aiken. The discovery was made by the property owner.

In addition to murder, White also has an active felony warrant for theft by receiving stolen property. He is accused of stealing Parrish’s white 2020 Kia Optima, which was located in the Augusta University parking lot behind 1278 Augusta Avenue, which is where White was living.

Parrish was a well-known hairdresser and content creator. He disappeared in a case that bewildered the area and led to viral posts across the country.

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Richmond County authorities have released the name of the suspect they identified in the killing of an Augusta man who was shot last week in the middle of Washington Road.

Robert Ward, 32, is wanted for murder and weapon possession in last Wednesday’s shooting death of 38-year-old John Lowden Jr., authorities said. The victim was fatally shot in the eastbound lanes on the 2800 block of Washington Road in Augusta. Deputies responded at 2:24 a.m. Wednesday and found the victim lying in the eastbound right lane, and he was pronounced dead.

The shooting followed an altercation between the two in the road between Circle K and TBonz Steakhouse, authorities say. Ward allegedly shot Lowden and then fled, but investigators used camera footage from the area to identify him as the killer.

Ward is a repeat offender and felon who spent three short stints in prison, benefitting from light sentences and lots of probation. His previous convictions involve drug dealing, obstruction of officers, theft and weapons offenses. He was last given probation for fentanyl possession and lying to cops in January. A warrant was issued on Feb. 1 for violating probation, but he was never picked up before last week’s deadly shooting.

The victim is a former Green Beret in the Army who was a Special Forces weapon sergeant with five combat deployments to Afghanistan and a deployment to Honduras. He made local headlines when he jumped from an ambulance on Nov. 19 on the way to a mental health facility in Augusta. Dressed in blue scrubs, he fled the ambulance on St. Sebastian Way at Walton Way and ran off. He was captured four days later and booked into the jail for an order to show cause warrant. At the time, he was listed as homeless.

Lowden starred as himself in a “Killer Sally,” a 2022 Netflix series about his mother, Sally McNeil. The series includes interviews with friends, family and McNeil herself. The series charts her rocky marriage with Ray McNeil and its shocking end in her husband’s Valentine’s Day murder. Sally McNeil’s children John and Shantina Lowden (from a previous relationship) also recall in the series what it was like to grow up with Ray McNeil as their stepfather and the day their mother shot him.

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The Columbia County worker who suffered a horrific death inside a wood chipper this month may have contributed to the freak accident by drinking on the job, authorities said in an investigative summary.

Ralph Pickens, 63, of McCormick, S.C., was killed Feb. 5 at Pollard Lumber Company after entering an industrial conveyor wood chipper at the Appling business, authorities said. Officers found an empty 200 ml bottle of McCormick Vodka in a brown paper bag in his booth.

The tragic event is detailed in a final report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The officer concluded, “Ralph being caught drinking on the job several times and also being caught on the vibrating table, without cutting off the machine several times, and finding an empty liquor bottle in his booth leads me to think that for some reason Ralph became unconscious, whether due to a health issue, drinking, or hitting his head on something and fell onto the vibrating table, which led him to enter the wood chipper.”

The report continues, “I believe if Ralph had been conscious, he would have been able to get himself off the vibrating table in time to avoid getting caught in the wood chipper.”

The wood chipping machine at Pollard Lumber Company is a large, complex system involving a vibrating table, chipper, and conveyor belts to process scrap wood. Human remains were found scattered throughout the machine. The investigation revealed that Pickens had been seen near the wood chipper just before the accident.

Co-worker Jeffery Parks told officers that he noticed signs of distress when he observed what appeared to be blood and clothing emerging from the wood chipper. Upon investigation, it was discovered that Pickens, the operator of the chipper, had fallen into the machine.

Witnesses recounted instances where Pickens had been observed drinking on the job, a behavior that had reportedly led to disciplinary actions in the past. Additionally, Pickens had been witnessed on the vibrating table near the chipper, a dangerous act contrary to company policy.

Pickens’ wife, Brenda Pickens, confirmed to officers that her husband drank, but stated she did not know about him consuming alcohol at work. She said her husband suffered from a stroke, and his feet dragged while he walked. But other than that, he had no major health issues that she knew of, she said.

“I explained that there was not any part of the body that we could identify and would need to get a DNA sample from any sons or daughters,” the officer wrote in the report.

Pickens was identified through a DNA sample collected from his son. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed Pickens’ identity using a fingerprint from a finger that was in the recovered remains.

Levi Pollard with Pollard Lumber Company refuted rumors of a video capturing the accident, telling officers that cameras in the area were not operational at the time. With the GBI’s identification of Pickens’ remains, the case is considered closed, pending any further developments.

Pickens was honored in a memorial service Feb. 16 at Andrew Wardlaw Funeral Home in McCormick. On the funeral home website, Pollard co-worker Harold Cummings said he worked with the victim for four years. “I am sorry for your loss,” he said. “He was a good man.”

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Columbia County authorities are looking for help in identifying a suspect who dined at a Hibachi and Sushi restaurant in Martinez and then skipped out on the bill.

The suspect was with a group Feb. 10 at the Koi Japanese Hibachi & Sushi at 3847 Washington Road. Surveillance images show two women and two kids in the booth. One of the females had blonde hair and the other was brunette, a sheriff’s report says. The diners left without paying.

If you know who they are, please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 706-541-2800.

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Caleb White, a suspect wanted in the murder of Demon Parrish, was captured Tuesday after a brief standoff with officers in North Augusta.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, several North Augusta investigators were assisting the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force as they watched an apartment in the 200 building of Plaza Place Apartments. The North Augusta SWAT team was notified about the 21-year-old suspect being in the building and they responded to assist.  Negotiators began trying to make contact with the suspect and the female inside the apartment.

“After about an hour, contact was made and negotiators were able to talk them into coming out of the apartment,” North Augusta Public Safety Lt. Clay Swann said in a press release. “At that time the male suspect, Caleb Jamar White, was placed under arrest and transported to North Augusta CID for questioning by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Investigators. “

Richmond County authorities obtained a murder warrant against White on Feb. 20, three days after Parrish’s body was found in a wooded area of Aiken County. An autopsy shows he was shot to death.

White was transported to Aiken County Detention Center on Tuesday night to await extradition back to Richmond County.

Parrish was found Feb. 17 in a wooded area off 3595 Silver Bluff Road near Atomic Road in Aiken. The discovery was made by the property owner.

In addition to murder, White also has an active felony warrant for theft by receiving stolen property. He is accused of stealing Parrish’s white 2020 Kia Optima, which was located in the Augusta University parking lot behind 1278 Augusta Avenue, which is where White was living.

Parrish was a well-known hairdresser and content creator. He disappeared in a case that bewildered the area and led to viral posts across the country.

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A trio of criminals may have caused over half-a-million dollars in damages while stealing just $10,000 worth of copper wire from three industrial transformers at the Augusta Canal Authority off Broad Street, authorities said.

At least one of them, 34-year-old Kayla Nunagaray, is listed as homeless. Suspect Michael Whitfield, 44, was captured, but was hospitalized after being tasered, and 73-year-old Willie Willamson is being sought in the theft.

The brazen theft of 100 feet of cooper wire from industrial transformers at 1576 Broad St. was discovered early Monday when a worker for the Augusta Canal Authority stumbled upon the damage. Copper wiring was stripped away, leaving behind a scene of devastation that could be worth $525,000 in damages.

The theft not only caused financial losses, but also delayed repairs to the three transformers, which were damaged earlier when a demolition team knocked a piece of a building onto some of the Canal Authority’s electrical equipment. Any possibility of repairing them now seems unlikely, according to Tyler Snead, Executive Director for the Augusta Canal Authority.

After the weekend damage and theft, a Canal employee uncovered crucial evidence within the fenced-in area. Two backpacks contained a state ID belonging to Nunagaray, receipts from Augusta Recycling bearing the name of Willie Williamson, and an assortment of wires and cutting tools.

“Those two showed back up (Tuesday) and came one to one of the hydro officers and asked for the backpacks back,” Snead said, leading them to contact the sheriff’s office again.

When the pair realized that officers were there, they tried to flee with Whitfield riding off on a bicycle before being tasered by a deputy. He was later taken to a local hospital.

All three are facing charges of felony theft by taking and criminal damage to property while Whitfield also faces a charge of obstruction.

Meanwhile, three new transformers, vital for restoration efforts, remain hard to get, their acquisition unavailable for nearly two years. Their cost is estimated at $600,000, Snead said.

Despite operating without city assistance for funding for many years, the Authority has faced challenges, particularly in the aftermath of a fire at King Mill two years ago. This year, the City Commission added $148,000 into the budget for the Augusta Canal Authority.

“In December and January, we got King Mill back online and making money,” Snead said. But the recent incident involving a demolition team has caused further disruptions.

“A demolition team knocked a piece of a building onto some of our electrical equipment, causing it to go offline again after two years of repair efforts,” Snead said.

Snead explained that contractors are assessing the damage, but the situation is again complicated by the theft of copper wire and subsequent damage to transformers in the substation. “New transformers are 15-24 months out, and it would cost $600,000 to replace three transformers,” he said, lamenting that a cost-effective option has been taken off the table due to the recent theft.

Snead expressed frustration over the perpetrators’ actions, noting that they had not only stolen valuable materials, but also made the process of restoring operations more complicated. He emphasized the importance of the transformers in the substation for the Authority’s revenue generation. “Without those transformers, the Augusta Canal Authority can’t make any money off the power generated,” he explained.

Despite efforts to secure the premises with chain-linked fences and barbed wire, the perpetrators managed to gain access to the substation.

“We’re not sure how they got the gate open or if it was unbolted,” Snead said.

He confirmed that an insurance claim had been filed for the damages caused by the demolition mishap, but the theft has further complicated the situation.

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A South Carolina man who underwent training to become an officer was arrested Monday in Augusta on a rape charge.

Arryon Alexander Copeland, 31, of Columbia, S.C. is accused of raping an Augusta woman at her apartment last Saturday.

The victim told authorities that Copeland had sex with her while she was intoxicated and asleep. She woke up Saturday morning and Copeland was next to her.

The woman said she asked Copeland if he had sex with her while she was asleep, and he allegedly said, “I did go in there, but not long enough to (ejaculate).”

Copeland is a former Army soldier and a longtime church pianist, according to his LinkedIn page. His Facebook page describes his occupation as a resource officer with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in Columbia, S.C.

But a sheriff’s spokesperson said Copeland was fired after two months when he failed to complete the training, and he never served in a school.

The post Columbia Man Who Was Training to be a School Cop is Accused of Augusta Rape appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

A young Grovetown woman lost her life at the Club Car facility in Evans, sparking a thorough investigation by authorities.

Contract worker Alyssa Drinkard, 21, became entrapped in a conveyor belt on Friday night and was pronounced dead later at Doctors Hospital, according to Maj. Steve Morris with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigator William Bonsack and a team responded to Club Car on Washington Road, where they met with Club Car’s Environmental Health and Safety Team to delve into the circumstances surrounding Drinkard’s death. According to initial reports, deputies were dispatched to the facility at 9:44 p.m. Friday.

Drinkard, reportedly attempting to retrieve her dropped Air Pods, found herself trapped beneath the conveyor belt. Despite efforts by maintenance personnel to halt the machinery and extricate her, Drinkard could not be rescued in time. She was subsequently transported to Doctor’s Hospital by Gold Cross Med 1, where medical personnel pronounced her deceased at 5:50 a.m. Saturday.

Maj. Morris could not confirm or deny social media reports that Drinkard was decapitated, but it seems unlikely since she was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead hours later.

Surveillance footage obtained by authorities revealed the sequence of events leading to Drinkard’s death. It showed her crawling underneath the conveyor belt in an attempt to retrieve her lost device, only to become ensnared and ultimately unable to free herself.

Co-workers were expressing their shock about the tragedy, saying Drinkard was working on second-shift in the President Line area that works on the cart’s battery cells. Workers are told to be careful around their surroundings and to avoid wearing jewelry and headphones, one employee said.

Deputy Coroner Autumn Bradford conducted preliminary examinations at Doctors Hospital and later convened with investigators at the Club Car facility. Drinkard’s body will undergo further examination at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) lab to determine the exact cause of death. Employees said they saw representatives with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the facility over the weekend.

A sheriff’s report provided this narrative: “I arrived at the listed location and observed Alyssa Drinkard pinned under the conveyor at her workstation. She did not appear to be breathing. EMS and Fire arrived on the scene at the same time and began life-saving measures. They freed Alyssa by cutting the metal frame from around the conveyor and pulling her out. Once they got Alyssa out, they said she still had a pulse and transported her to Doctors Hospital for further treatment.

“Once EMS left with Alyssa, I went back inside and spoke with an employee, FaeZsha Smith, who was working with her when she was injured. Smith said Alyssa dropped her Air Pods below the conveyor, and when she got under the machine to get them, she got caught by the chain that moves the conveyor.

“Smith said due to the way Alyssa was pinned, she was not able to get her out, so she called for maintenance to come and shut the machine down. They began taking it apart once the machine was down and called 911.”

Club Car released this statement: “Friday evening, a contract labor worker experienced a critical injury while working at our main manufacturing facility in Evans. First responders were immediately notified, and we thank them for their quick response to provide medical care and transportation to the hospital where the worker unfortunately later passed away. Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with the family, friends and all impacted by this loss.  We are working with authorities and the contractor in an investigation to determine the facts about what led to the incident.”

(Note: If you have a better photo or memory of Alyssa to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.)

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Richmond County authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with an identity fraud case that occurred at Cadence Bank, located at 2805 Wrightsboro Road.

The incident started when two unidentified white males entered the bank around 4 p.m. Feb. 28. The individuals requested a printout of an account’s current statement and balances. One of the men presented a passport card bearing his photo and an account holder’s information.

However, suspicions arose when a bank employee looked up the supposed account holder’s details. The worker noted discrepancies in the responses provided by the individuals. Sensing something wrong, she requested they wait while she consulted with her manager. Before any further action could be taken, the men hastily departed from the bank.

Further investigation revealed that the passport card presented by one of the suspects belonged to the victim, an unsuspecting resident of Tennessee. The victim confirmed to authorities that he was not in Augusta at the time and was unaware of anyone using his information.

The incident mirrored a similar occurrence at Cadence Bank’s branch in Evans, though it had not yet been reported to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The responding officer secured the passport card as evidence, submitting it to authorities for further examination.

Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact Sgt. William Hornsby at (706) 821-1023 or the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1020 or (706) 821-1080.

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A single-car accident claimed the life of an Augusta teen and left his juvenile passenger hospitalized.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) responded to the scene at Twiggs Street and Laney Walker Boulevard following reports of a traffic accident with injuries. According to the RCSO, the incident occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a vehicle that had veered off the road and collided with a tree. Inside the vehicle were two juveniles, one of whom was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Jermaine Omar Odom Jr., from the 500 block of Richmond Hill Road. Odom was pronounced dead by authorities at 6:17 a.m. Thursday, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

The RCSO report indicates that the vehicle, traveling west on the 1200 block of Twiggs Street, was moving at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control, resulting in the fatal crash. The other juvenile, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains undisclosed at this time.

In response to the incident, the Richmond County STAR Team and the Coroner’s Office were deployed to the scene to conduct investigations. The Coroner’s Office is currently leading the investigation into the fatal crash.

Following the completion of initial investigations and necessary procedures, Twiggs Street between Laney Walker Boulevard and Wrightsboro Road has been reopened to traffic.

Note: If you have a better photo or memory to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.

The post Augusta Teen, 17, Dies & Another Injured in Single-Car Accident appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

A Columbia County jailer was arrested on Thursday following allegations of allowing inmates to use a cell phone within the facility.

Riley Austin Peters, 21, was arrested after an investigation was spurred by information received Wednesday, according to sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. Peters allegedly provided inmates access to a cell phone within the E Pod housing area of the detention center in Appling. The information further suggested the possibility of financial transactions through platforms like Cash App in exchange for the illicit phone use.

Authorities initiated a lockdown of the E Pod housing area and conducted a comprehensive search of both inmates and the premises after Deputy Peters’ arrival for duty. Subsequently, Peters was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for questioning.

In light of the investigation’s findings, Peters was suspended from duty without pay and sent home. Peters was formally arrested Thursday and charged under OCGA 16-10-1 for Violation of Oath of Office and 42-5-18 for Providing a Telecommunication Device to an Inmate.

The gravity of the situation was underscored by the termination of Riley Peters from his position as Deputy Jailer, effective immediately, Maj. Morris said. Peters had been employed at the Columbia County Detention Center since Jan. 2, 2024.

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Grovetown police have arrested three people for trying to meet a 14-year-old child for paid sex, part of a large weekend operation expected to yield additional suspects.

Rubicel Casto-Cruz, 33, of Edgefield, S.C., Anthony Daquan Harley, 30, of Aiken, S.C., and James Charles Waller, 31, of Evans, were all charged with sexual exploitation of children and booked into the Columbia County Detention Center.

The arrests were part of “Operation Sweet Tee,” a joint operation the Grovetown Police Department conducted alongside the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. It targeted online child predators, according to Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens.

Undercover agents and investigators engaged online with over 1,000 individuals between Thursday and Sunday. They counted 157 verified adults who expressed a desire to meet for sexual activity, despite being advised that they were conversing with a “child,” the chief said.

“Of that number, 12 individuals stated that they would be willing to travel to meet with the ‘child’ for sex and offered payment in exchange,” Chief Kitchens said. “Some of the individuals engaging in the chats were identified as living as far away as Chattanooga, Tennessee.”

The investigation continues and additional charges are expected. Multiple electronic devices and two vehicles were seized as part of the operation, the chief said.

In addition, an out-of-state registered sex offender was identified as one of the individuals attempting to arrange a meeting for sex with the “child” and a warrant has been issued for them as well. Investigators are working to positively identify the remaining individuals engaged in the solicitation and additional charges and arrests are expected.

Chief Kitchens said several other agencies assisted in the operation, including the Army Criminal Investigations Division, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Navy Criminal Investigative Service, Polk County Police Department and Waynesboro Police Department.

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Bray Jackson is seething with anger at Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree over his agency’s perceived lack of effort in apprehending the suspect responsible for her sister’s brutal murder, along with the death of her unborn baby.

Her sister, Shaneikwa Lafavor, was seven months pregnant when she was gunned down on East Taylor Street on May 22. Detectives almost immediately identified Shawn Antonio Walker as the killer and obtained murder warrants. Yet, the sheriff’s office has not once posted his photo or sent out a wanted flyer for him after 10 months.

“Richard Roundtree doesn’t do nothing,” Jackson said. “Why are you still sheriff?”

Jackson said her mother talked to the sheriff’s office and were told they handed it over to the marshals. Since then, she heard that a couple of probation officers who have seen Walker.

With no press release and no alert to the public, Jackson finally found Walker’s photo herself and posted it on Facebook earlier this year. But Walker is still on the loose.

“I just put it out there,” she said. “The Richmond County police, they don’t care. There is no justice. They just overlooked my sister’s case.”

The sheriff’s office released this statement on Monday: “Its an ongoing case and at this time we do not have any additional information to provide at this time”

In addition to Lafavor and her unborn daughter, Walker stands accused of shooting Lafavor’s boyfriend and his 11-year-old son. Allegedly, an argument erupted between Lafavor and Walker outside their home just before Lafavor’s boyfriend arrived. Gunfire ensued, followed by Walker’s swift escape, according to Jackson.

Jackson suspects that Walker may be familiar with the neighborhood, as his grandmother resides there.

During the shooting, Lafavor’s son ran out of the house seeking help and was shot in the leg. He survived but now struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. Lafavor’s boyfriend, the father of her unborn child, was also shot. Inside the house, at least three other children hid during the gunfire.

The victim’s family is united in their desire to see Walker apprehended and believe he may be hiding within Richmond County. Jackson said her call to detectives in the case go to voicemail. And their request to get her sister’s belongings – including her phone, watches and weapons – have gone ignored.

Adding to her frustration is her fear. Jackson worries that Walker knows who she is.

“I am tired of feeling like I have to look over my shoulder, because I know this guy knows what I look like,” Jackson said. “I think they need to try to find him.  What is he going to do to the next person?  … How many more people is he going to take?”

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The 4-year-old Evans boy who was run over by his mother’s SUV last week was unbelted before he opened the door on Interstate 20 in Grovetown, authorities said.

Jamey Dakai Kadhim, 38, of Tulip Drive, Evans, was charged Thursday with reckless conduct and no child safety restraint. She has been released on bond.

The accident happened last Monday afternoon (March 11) on the I-20 East ramp near Lewiston Road. Her son, Noah, was seated in the left rear of the 2021 Toyota Highlander without a child safety seat or seat belt, allowing the child to roam the vehicle freely, a sheriff’s report says.

“Noah opened the left rear door while the vehicle was moving and fell out on to the roadway after striking the left rear tire of the vehicle,” the report says. “This caused serious injury to Noah.”

The child was rushed to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Children’s Hospital of Augusta, authorities said. An updated condition was not released this week.

The incident happened on the new diverging diamond that opened this month.

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The mother and grandmother of a 1-year-old child were arrested Tuesday after the toddler was hospitalized from an apparent meth overdose.

The child’s condition has stabilized at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, but an investigation has led to the two arrests.

Deborah Danielle Wright, 29, and Laura Michelle Wright, 51, were both charged with cruelty to children in the second degree. They were booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

The investigation began Monday when the child was admitted to the hospital in Augusta. According to Sgt. Caleb Lee of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division swiftly initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the child’s exposure and ultimately led to the arrests.

A meth possession charge against Deborah Wright has lingered in the court for two years, following her arrest in March 2022. She also has a pending trespass charge.

The post Augusta Mom & Grandmother Arrested After Child’s Apparent Meth Overdose appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

The inmate who died Wednesday morning while in custody of the Aiken County Detention Center was being held for a Christmas Eve killing of an Aiken man.

Tony Muldrow, 34, was found in a “medical crisis” early Wednesday and was pronounced dead an hour later after being rushed to Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The death is not considered suspicious, but the sheriff’s office has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to conduct an independent investigation, according to authorities.

Muldrow is from Florence County. He was captured there in December and brought back to Aiken County on Dec. 29 to face involuntary manslaughter charges in a Christmas Eve killing in Aiken.

Rondre J. Gomillion, 29, was fatally shot around 11 a.m. Dec. 24 at 161 Squire St. in Aiken. Gomillion was found in the front yard on Squire Street and appeared to have an apparent gunshot wound to his chest.

“A witness told deputies that the victim and the gunman got into an argument outside the home when shots rang out,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said. “The gunman drove away in a dark blue Chevy Suburban or Trailblazer.”

A woman who was trying to help Gomillion told deputies that she knew the suspect.

A report says, “When I started CPR, I began asking the female, if she knew the shooter, and she said yes, it was a guy that she met on a dating app and just started seeing.”

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An armed robbery incident this month has shaken the community at Glenn Hills High School, leading to a wanted poster on the two students.

Ka’Von Patterson, 17, and Ty’Tron Hope, 17, are both wanted for armed robbery and weapon possession.

According to reports, two 16-year-old juvenile students left the school around 10:50 a.m. March 7 and ventured to the vacant USA Living building at 2630 Georgetown Drive. There, they were confronted by two other classmates who allegedly held them at gunpoint.

The female student was robbed of an iPhone 11 and an Apple Watch, while the male student lost a pair of Air Pods and his Nike Jordan 5 shoes. The victims promptly returned to school and reported the incident.

Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects to contact Investigator Ken Rogers or any Violent Crimes Investigator at 706-821-1080 or 706-821-1020.

The post Glenn Hills High School Students Wanted for Robbing Classmates at Gunpoint Near Campus appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

Richmond County authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with an identity fraud case that occurred at Cadence Bank, located at 2805 Wrightsboro Road.

The incident started when two unidentified white males entered the bank around 4 p.m. Feb. 28. The individuals requested a printout of an account’s current statement and balances. One of the men presented a passport card bearing his photo and an account holder’s information.

However, suspicions arose when a bank employee looked up the supposed account holder’s details. The worker noted discrepancies in the responses provided by the individuals. Sensing something wrong, she requested they wait while she consulted with her manager. Before any further action could be taken, the men hastily departed from the bank.

Further investigation revealed that the passport card presented by one of the suspects belonged to the victim, an unsuspecting resident of Tennessee. The victim confirmed to authorities that he was not in Augusta at the time and was unaware of anyone using his information.

The incident mirrored a similar occurrence at Cadence Bank’s branch in Evans, though it had not yet been reported to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The responding officer secured the passport card as evidence, submitting it to authorities for further examination.

Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact Sgt. William Hornsby at (706) 821-1023 or the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1020 or (706) 821-1080.

The post Identity Fraud Suspect Sought After Augusta Bank Scam appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

A single-car accident claimed the life of an Augusta teen and left his juvenile passenger hospitalized.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) responded to the scene at Twiggs Street and Laney Walker Boulevard following reports of a traffic accident with injuries. According to the RCSO, the incident occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a vehicle that had veered off the road and collided with a tree. Inside the vehicle were two juveniles, one of whom was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Jermaine Omar Odom Jr., from the 500 block of Richmond Hill Road. Odom was pronounced dead by authorities at 6:17 a.m. Thursday, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

The RCSO report indicates that the vehicle, traveling west on the 1200 block of Twiggs Street, was moving at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control, resulting in the fatal crash. The other juvenile, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains undisclosed at this time.

In response to the incident, the Richmond County STAR Team and the Coroner’s Office were deployed to the scene to conduct investigations. The Coroner’s Office is currently leading the investigation into the fatal crash.

Following the completion of initial investigations and necessary procedures, Twiggs Street between Laney Walker Boulevard and Wrightsboro Road has been reopened to traffic.

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The post Augusta Teen, 17, Dies & Another Injured in Single-Car Accident appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

A Columbia County jailer was arrested on Thursday following allegations of allowing inmates to use a cell phone within the facility.

Riley Austin Peters, 21, was arrested after an investigation was spurred by information received Wednesday, according to sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. Peters allegedly provided inmates access to a cell phone within the E Pod housing area of the detention center in Appling. The information further suggested the possibility of financial transactions through platforms like Cash App in exchange for the illicit phone use.

Authorities initiated a lockdown of the E Pod housing area and conducted a comprehensive search of both inmates and the premises after Deputy Peters’ arrival for duty. Subsequently, Peters was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for questioning.

In light of the investigation’s findings, Peters was suspended from duty without pay and sent home. Peters was formally arrested Thursday and charged under OCGA 16-10-1 for Violation of Oath of Office and 42-5-18 for Providing a Telecommunication Device to an Inmate.

The gravity of the situation was underscored by the termination of Riley Peters from his position as Deputy Jailer, effective immediately, Maj. Morris said. Peters had been employed at the Columbia County Detention Center since Jan. 2, 2024.

The post Columbia County Deputy Arrested for Giving Inmates Cell Phone Access appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.