More arrests, more charges could be filed in Bender murder case

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said Friday there could be more arrests in the Hannah Bender murder case.

“I know the GBI is looking into that,” he said during a phone interview.

Jarrard also said the GBI could file additional charges against the six people already in custody.

Authorities believe Bender was murdered in Lumpkin County, but her body was found in a ravine in Forsyth County on Parks Road near Hwy 306.

Austin Todd Stryker, who was arrested in Pittsburgh last week, has been charged with Bender’s murder. He also has been charged with the robbery of the Dollar General store on Hwy. 60 in Lumpkin County in July.

Authorities have not revealed a motive in the murder. Nor have they said whether the robbery and murder are connected. The GBI special agent in charge of the investigation declined to be interviewed last week.

The others arrested include Bailey Williams, 21, charged with tampering with evidence; Dylan Reid, 19, charged with concealing a death; Isaac Huff, 18, charged with concealing a death; Elizabeth Brooke Donaldson, 21,  charged with  tampering with evidence; Jerry Harper, 78, charged with concealing a dead body and tampering with evidence.

 

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