The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has stepped in to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a local man, taking the lead from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. On Friday, July 12, GBI agents made an arrest in the murder case of Antowne Shalmar Lay, age 29, from Athens, GA. Lay's body was discovered near the intersection of Antioch Church Road and Gus Barnett Road, in Nicholson, GA, bringing a chilling reminder of fragility to the quiet streets.
31-year-old William Austin of Jefferson, GA, now faces charges including Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Tampering with Evidence. According to a GBI press release, Austin was booked into the Jackson County Jail following his arrest. The details of the crime have yet to fully surface, and the motivations, yet to unravel; the GBI's investigation continues in an attempt to piece together the final hours of Lay's life.
The justice system is now in motion to ensure that the events leading to the untimely demise of Lay will not remain obscured by the shadows of criminal intent. As the case file undergoes scrutiny, it will ultimately be handed over to the Piedmont Judicial Circuit for prosecution.
With the case garnering widespread attention, the GBI appeals to the community for assistance. Anyone with information that could shed light on this grim incident is encouraged to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 706-367-8718, or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Athens, GA at 706-552-2309. Anonymous tips can also be submitted, by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online, or by downloading the seeingly intuitive See Something, Send Something mobile app.
