Lumpkin, GA – The Americus office of the GBI is announcing the arrest of James Eggleston, 71, of 340 Hall Road Lumpkin, Georgia, for the murder of Richard Byrd.  Byrd was discovered murdered on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, deceased from injuries sustained from an assault with a sharp edged weapon.  GBI agents developed Eggleston as a suspect early in the investigation and tracked him across the country by various means while gathering enough information to make the arrest.  On Thursday, July 16, 2015, agents obtained a murder warrant for Eggleston’s arrest and contacted the Wentzville Police Department for assistance after determining that Eggleston was located in a hotel room located in the City of Wentzville, Missouri.  A SWAT team was utilized to the make the arrest due the violent nature of Byrd’s murder.   At 9:44 p.m., EST, Eggleston was arrested without incident and transported to the St. Charles County Jail where he is awaiting extradition back to Stewart County, Georgia, to face murder charges. 

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Contact Information:

ASAC Mike Walsingham 229/931-2439