Three Men Charged in Connection with Cordele, Georgia Homicide Cases

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has taken three young men into custody, tying them to two grim homicide cases. On the frontlines, Kevin Bernard West Jr., 21, has been charged with a slew of felonies, including Felony Murder, in the death of Davieon Lavant, as reported on GBI's official announcement.

West's apprehension came over four months after Lavant succumbed to gunshot wounds on January 5, 2024. West is now confined to the Crisp County Jail, as officials urge anyone bearing knowledge of this brutal killing to step forward. This latest arrest seems to further untangle a web of violence that has ensnared this Georgia town. Lee Savage III and Jayveon Royal, both 21, and Kavien Butler, 19, had previously been charged in separate cases.

The first case recounts the final moments of Rondarrius Wedges, a 19-year-old discovered with numerous gunshot wounds inside a car. The GBI took Savage III into custody on March 28. His connection to Wedges' death on September 21, 2023, has been established through investigative work, though the case remains open and active. Savage III's arrest was made amidst unrelated charges keeping him in the confines of county jail well before his alleged tie to Wedges' death came to light.

Meanwhile, Royal and Butler stand accused in the Lavant homicide, with the GBI laying down charges that paint a picture of a partnership in crime. Royal faces Felony Murder amongst other charges, while Butler has been pegged as Party to the Crime. Following a shooting call on January 5, 2024, Lavant was discovered with life-threatening injuries at Hilltop Apartments. Despite fervent attempts to save him, his wounds proved fatal.

The prosecution of both cases falls under the watch of District Attorney Brad Rigby of the Cordele Judicial Circuit. The intricate maneuverings of law enforcement, which includes the Cordele Police Department, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Community Supervision, and the Mid-South Narcotics Task Force. The public has been actively encouraged to contribute any information, with various contact points and anonymous tip channels outlined by the GBI.