Press Releases

UPDATE:

Christopher Thomas Ford has been located and was arrested at his home.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Toomsboro, GA (December 20, 2022) - The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Toomsboro, Wilkinson County, Georgia. The Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on December 20, 2022. 

Dawsonville, GA (December 21, 2022) – On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, John Leonard Maxfield Jr, age 41, of Dawson County, Georgia, was arrested and charged with nine counts (two counts of distribution and seven counts of possession) of Sexual Exploitation of Children by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit. 

Update: Thomas Warren Capps, age 40, of Americus, has been arrested and charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Nickalus Lee Cochran, age 25, of Americus, has been arrested and charged with Tampering with Evidence. 

Sumter County (December 22, 2022) - The GBI is investigating the death of an Americus man after a shooting incident that happened last night at 145 Dogwood Drive in Americus, Sumter County, GA. On Wednesday, December 21, at about 11:30 p.m., the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to assist. Christopher York was shot and taken to the Phoebe Sumter Hospital where he died. The investigation is ongoing.

Polk County, Cedartown, GA (December 21, 2022) – The Polk County Police Department and the GBI arrested Brandon Lyle, age 30, of Cedartown, and charged him with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, Home Invasion, Burglary, Theft by Taking and several other offenses.

Warner Robins, Houston County, GA (December 20, 2022) - The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Warner Robins, GA.  The Georgia State Patrol asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on December 20, 2022. 

Jasper, GA (December 16, 2022) – On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Kelly Eugene Howard, age 49, of Pickens County, Georgia, was arrested and charged with one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit. The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Howard’s online activity after receiving Cybertip Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible online possession of child sexual abuse material.  This investigation led to a search warrant at Howard’s residence and his subsequent arrest.  The GBI CEACC unit was assisted in the execution of their search warrant by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.

Garfield, Georgia (December 16, 2022) – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating a man’s death that happened on St. Paul Road in Emanuel County.  On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at about 3:50 a.m., the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office asked the GBI to assist.

Richmond County, GA (December 15, 2022) - The GBI has arrested and charged Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Quincy Cannon, age 31, Andrew Acosta, age 25, and Robert Wilson, age 45, on charges stemming from an incident that happened at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and after an officer involved shooting involving Vernon Cratic, age 34.   

Savannah, GA (December 15, 2022) – The GBI was requested by the Chatham County Police Department to conduct a use of force investigation that took place at a home on Fort Argyle Court in Savannah, GA, on December 13, 2022.

Charlton County, GA (12/15/2022) – A joint investigation by the GBI and the Charlton County Sherriff’s Office has led to the arrest of three individuals for the Robbery and Murder of Jonathan David Merritt of Nassau County, FL. The GBI and Charlton County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lindsay Griffis, 35, of Folkston, GA for the charges of Armed Robbery and Murder on 12/2/2022. On this same date warrants were issued for both Kristin McDade, 37, of Jacksonville, FL and Thomas Moore, 38, of Jacksonville, FL, for the same charges. The U.S. Marshals Service was requested to assist in locating and taking McDade and Moore into custody. Both McDade and Moore were apprehended in New Port Richey, FL by the U.S. Marshals on 12/13/2022.