Teen who drowned in Dicks Creek on Memorial Day identified
News June 1, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Lumpkin County Coroner Mark Cox today identified the teenager who drowned in Dicks Creek on Memorial Day as 15-year-old Michael Cole of Lithonia.
According to Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon, Cole was swimming with his family when he slipped on a rock and went under. The body was recovered with a Lumpkin County Fire Department crew and transported to the Coroner’s Office.
Meanwhile, the search continues today for the body of Xi Zhu who disappeared Saturday near Shoal Creek in Lake Lanier. The 56-year man left an inflatable raft to recover an oar when he disappeared.
A third drowning death occurred when a 3-year-old boy drowned in Carter’s Lake in Murray County.
Come on and take a free ride New Year’s Eve
News December 31, 2019
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Coroner Jim Sheppard wants to make sure everyone gets home safely from their New Year’s Eve Party so he and Deputy Coroner Frank Goss are offering free rides to those too impaired to get behind the wheel.
“We just want to make sure folks get home safely,” said Sheppard, a 28-year law enforcement veteran. “I would rather deliver folks to their homes than to have to deliver a death notice. That is one of the most awful things you can do.”
The men will be using their own personal vehicles so there is no liability to the county.
“We will be available all night,” Sheppard added. “Just call or text me at 706-973-7677 and we will come and get you.”
If the two men receive more calls they can handle, Sheppard said they will reach out to their law enforcement partners for help and that no questions will be asked.
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Fortner Case Goes to the Jury
Business, News August 26, 2016DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Both sides delivered closing arguments Friday in the case of Lumpkin County Coroner Ronald Fortner who is charged with 18 counts of felony theft by deception, 18 counts of misdemeanor theft by deception and violation of oath of office.
On Thursday, defense attorney Jeff Wolff moved for a directed verdict of acquittal of his client but Judge Martha Christian denied the motion. Friday morning Enotah Judicial District Attorney Jeff Langley called Chris Loga, former administrator of Gold City Convalescent Center, as a rebuttal witness before closing arguments began.
Loga testified that Fortner met with him in his office at Gold City and told him he would explain how it worked in Lumpkin County with respect to coroner.
“He told me that only the coroner can pronounce death in Lumpkin County. I asked why and he just said, ‘That’s the way it is in Lumpkin County.”‘
Wolff argued, the charges filed against Fortner are the result of a political vendetta by County Commission Chairman Chris Dockery against Fortner.
Wolff recalled Thursday’s testimony of County Commissioner Doug Sherrill who talked about the chairman wanting Fortner to place lettering on the coroner’s vehicle and he refused which created tension between the two.
“Who did he make angry,” Wolff asked. “Why did they come after him? Mr. Fortner was trying to protect the elderly victims of Alzheimer’s and dementia. That’s what he was trying to do. When a hard working coroner decides to stand up for the disadvantaged in the county, someone decides they don’t like him and government goes after him.”
Wolff also argued that his client had been charged with illegally pronouncing the death of patients at Gold City. But the evidence presented by the prosecutor clearly showed that a nurse had pronounced the deaths.
“Mr. Langley will argue that was just a legal technicality. It’s not a technicality. It’s the law. A nurse pronounced death in all those cases but one.”
The case went to the jury Friday afternoon.
“This case is not about politics,” Langley said in his closing argument. “It’s not about $3,000. It’s about principle. Did he get money for cases he wasn’t supposed to get money for?”
Langley also argued that any death at a nursing home is considered “attended” and that a coroner does not have jurisdiction.
The case went to the jury Friday afternoon.
Sheppard, Mayfield, Turner Win Lumpkin County Races
News, Politics July 27, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — All Lumpkin County General Primary runoff races resulted in landslide victories last night. Veteran law enforcement officer Jim Sheppard coasted to victory in the coroner’s race, beating challenger Amanda Jones-Holbrooks 1,704 to 462. Bobby Mayfield defeated incumbent District 2 Commissioner Steve Shaw 1,596 to 549 and longtime educator Mera Turner beat Catherine Ariemma 1,597 to 719 to win the vacant school board seat.
After his resounding win, Sheppard said, “I’m honored the Lumpkin County citizens have elected me to represent them as their next coroner. The campaign has been a humbling experience, one filled with new friendships and discovery. As your Lumpkin County Coroner, I’ll work hard daily to maintain the honor and integrity that you expect of me. Thank you for my supporters who never gave up, especially my wife Rhonda and my daughter Anna who were with me each and every day of the campaign.”
Jones-Holbrooks was plagued by personal and legal problems. After winning the General Primary last May, she was arrested and charged with first-degree forgery, a felony one week before the early voting began. Lumpkin County authorities are also investigating a complaint of theft by deception leveled against her by her ex-husband.
After two terms on the Board of Commissioners, Shaw suffered the same fate as many incumbents across the state and nation in his loss to Mayfield, who captured 74.4 percent of the vote.
Turner, who captured 68.9 percent of the vote en route to winning a seat on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, said, “I am looking forward to serving on the Board of Education now that voters have selected me to see that Lumpkin County continues to provide a quality education for all students. I appreciate all that helped me achieve this position.”
Lumpkin County Coroner Candidate Arrested
News June 30, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County Coroner candidate Amanda Jones-Holbrooks was arrested Thursday and charged with forging her ex-husband’s signature on a quit-claim deed transferring land he owns to her.
Jones-Holbrooks, who goes by the name Amanda Jones in her campaign for coroner, turned herself in to Lumpkin County authorities at 7:20 a.m. and was released on $5,000 bail. She declined to comment, but referred all questions to her attorney Andrea Conarro.
Jones-Holbrooks did post a comment about the incident on her facebook page, asking that the community respect her privacy. “My family is dealing with custody and civil matters initiated by my former in laws, for which I have hired counsel. I regret that these civil matters are being turned into a political play and posted on social media.”
The charge against Jones-Holbrooks, however, is not a civil matter. First-degree forgery is a felony crime punishable by not less than one nor more than 10 years in prison.
Jones-Holbrook’s ex-husband Ricky Edmondson, Jr. filed the complaint against her and the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Lumpkin County District Attorney’s office determined there was probable cause for her arrest.
Edmondson told Fetch Your News, “I did not sign a quit claim deed. I only learned about the quit claim deed when I attempted to transfer ownership of the land to my parents and my attorney Angela Clark discovered the land was now in my ex-wife’s name.”
Edmondson said the notary who witnessed the quit claim deed, Johnathan Fitzpatrick, stated that Edmondson personally appeared before him on Sept. 24, 2015. “That’s not true. I was in Murphy, N.C. on that day,” Edmondson said.
Jones-Holbrooks is one of two candidates involved in the July 26 runoff. Her opponent is Jim Sheppard, a veteran law enforcement officer who is retiring after 28 years with the DeKalb County Police Department.
This is not Jones-Holbrooks first brush with the law. She was arrested in Lumpkin County in 2000 for obstructing a peace officer and in again in 2007 when she was charged with deposit account fraud/bad checks.
Arrest Warrant Issued for Lumpkin Co. Coroner Candidate
News June 29, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — An arrest warrant has been issued for Amanda Jones-Holbrooks, a candidate for Lumpkin County Coroner.
On June 1st, Holbrook’s ex-husband Ricky Edmondson Jr. filed a report with Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office alleging Holbrooks had filed a Quit Claim Deed for a piece of property owned by him with the Lumpkin County Clerk of Courts. Mr. Edmondson further stated his signature on the Quit Claim Deed had been forged by Ms. Holbrooks.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division along with Lumpkin County District Attorney’s office investigated the allegation and determined there to be sufficient probable cause to seek formal charges.
Today, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office applied for and received an arrest warrant for Ms. Holbrooks, charging her with first degree forgery, a felony.
Edmonson told Fetch Your News, “I did not sign a quit claim deed. “I only learned about the quit claim deed when I attempted to transfer ownership of the land to my parents and my attorney Angela Clark discovered the land was now in my ex-wife’s name.”
Edmondson said the notary who witnessed the quit claim deed, Johnathan Fitzpatrick, stated that Edmondson personally appeared before him on Sept. 24, 2015. “That’s not true. I was in Murphy, N.C. on that day,” Edmondson said.
Holbroks, who goes by the name Jones in her campaign, is one of two candidates involved in the July 26 runoff. Her opponent is Jim Sheppard, a veteran law enforcement officer who is retiring after 28 years with the DeKalb County Police Department.
This is not Holbrooks first arest. She was arrested in Lumpkin County in 2007 and charged with deposit account fraud/bad checks.
Sheppard Picks Up Endorsement in Race for Coroner
News June 29, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Jim Sheppard’s campaign for Lumpkin County Coroner got a major boost recently when former opponent Diane Kimmel endorsed him for the important position.
“I’m grateful to have her support in the runoff,” Sheppard said. “I value her wisdom and integrity so her support means a lot to me personally,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard is a veteran law enforcement officer who will retire after 28 years of service to the DeKalb County Police Department at the end of this year. Sheppard is experienced in handling felony investigations and multi-million dollar budgets.
“Not all of the coroner’s work involves criminal cases, but some do and when they do, I have a lot of experience in that area,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard said he would also like to look into grants that are available to coroner’s offices like the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program that helps to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds.
Sheppard and his wife give back to the Lumpkin County community through their ownership of Waters Mill, a wedding and event facility they use to host fundraisers for non-profit organizations. In fact, Sheppard has said if he is elected, he will donate his first year’s salary to Jeremiah’s Place, a group of living facilities for families and single women who are temporarily homeless, Rainbow Children’s Home, a facility that exists to provide hope, security and opportunity to girls between 12 and 18 who are victims of abuse and/or neglect and No One Alone, for victims of domestic violence.
Sheppard will face Amanda Jones in the July 26 runoff election.