CORDELE, GA - The charred body discovered on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, inside of a smoldering SUV in a cotton field near Blackshear Road in Cordele, Georgia, has been positively identified as 51-year-old Jerry Lee Lawrence.   Lawrence, of South Joe Wright Drive in Cordele, was identified by the GBI Crime lab through DNA analysis. The body of another victim, Harold Reese, Jr., was discovered the following morning in a cotton field near the original crime scene.   Both deaths were ruled as homicides by the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s office.

Four people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of Lawrence and Reese. On Friday August 28th there was a break in the case that led to the arrest of Corey and Amin Dennis who were both charged with felony murder. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle they had been driving which revealed evidence which led to the charges.

On Friday, September 4, 2009, two additional arrests were made in connection with the ongoing investigation into the two deaths.    Special Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and investigators with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office arrested 23-year-old Jennifer McLeod and 48-year-old Elizabeth Davis.  Davis was charged with concealing a death and McLeod was charged with felony murder as the result of additional information revealed during this investigation.

This investigation is still ongoing; anyone who has any information regarding this case should contact the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office at 229-276-2600, or the GBI Americus Office at 229-931-2439.

     

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Contact Information:

ASAC Trebor Randle - 404-693-4717 Crisp County Sheriff's Office - 229-276-2600