A man from Bowman has been cuffed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in connection to a murder case at Hartwell's Daynight Inn. Matthew Carey, 41, faces charges including Malice Murder and Felony Murder, along with Aggravated Assault - Family Violence.
The GBI stepped in to assist the Hartwell Police Department on Sunday, embarking on the probe following the death of Candy Downer, 36. According to a GBI press release, Carey was nabbed the next day and is currently behind bars at the Hart County Jail.
The authorities are keeping their cards close to their chest, but they're calling on anyone with a morsel of information to step forward. The Hartwell Police Department and the Athens GBI Regional Investigative Office are taking calls, signaling a united front in the quest for truth in Downer's untimely demise.
Those harboring possible leads can dial into the local police or the GBI directly. Anonymous tipsters aren't left out in the cold either, with options to call, submit online, or use the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The community, chased by the specter of violence, is urged to break their silence.
Once completed, Carey's case file will be served up to the Northern Judicial Circuit for prosecution. By laying the cards on the table, the lawmen hope to deliver justice for Downer, whose life was cut short under yet-to-be-disclosed circumstances at the Daynight Inn, now a grim stage for a small-town tragedy.
