On Thursday, December 6, 2018, two additional arrests were made in this case. Dalton Levi Manuel, 15, of Morganton, GA was arrested and charged with murder and Lakota Ricky Cloer, 16, of Morganton, GA was charged with party to the crime of murder. Both will be housed in regional youth detention centers. Booking photographs are available from the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office. 

___________________________________________________________

Blue Ridge (December 4, 2018) - On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, the GBI and the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Blake Dickey AKA Blake Dye, 15, and Hunter Hill, 15, both of Blairsville, Georgia for the murder of Justin McKinney, 33 of Morganton, Georgia. They were each charged with one count of murder; however additional charges are pending.  Dye and Hill will be housed at the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center.

On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at approximately 1:38 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to assist the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office with a murder investigation.  At approximately 12:50 AM, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of Elrod Lane, Morganton, Fannin County, Georgia.  Deputies were dispatched to the area as a result of a 911 call in which the caller indicated she and a male subject were shot.  When deputies arrived on scene, the male subject, McKinney was deceased.  The female, Anna Franklin, 35 of Morganton, Georgia was taken to the hospital for treatment.

McKinney’s autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, 2018. 

Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution. 

Contact Information:

Nelly Miles - Public Affairs Director