Billy Joe Tyler III has pleaded guilty to murder in the 2023 robbery and shooting of a LaGrange man at the Sunny Point Recreation Area and is scheduled to be sentenced May 11. Police say the victim, 69-year-old Kenneth Stanley Dial, was robbed and shot during his regular morning walk on Aug. 28, 2023, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives later recovered the firearm investigators say was used in the killing, a development police say pushed Tyler to take the plea.
As reported by Atlanta News First, police said, "When confronted with this new evidence, the offender, Billy Joe Tyler, chose to plead guilty to the charge of murder." The station noted that detectives recovered the gun before the plea was entered and that Tyler will be formally sentenced on May 11 in Troup County.
How police say the killing unfolded
LaGrange officers say the shooting took place on the morning of Aug. 28, 2023, at the Sunny Point Recreation Area off Mooty Bridge Road, after witnesses reported hearing gunshots around 7:30 a.m. An acquaintance of the victim entered the park just before 8 a.m. and called 911 after finding Dial suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local print coverage detailed the initial investigation and arrest, according to the LaGrange Daily News. Television outlets also covered the case in the early hours of the investigation, including FOX 5 Atlanta.
Investigation and arrests
Tyler was arrested the same night and booked into the Troup County Jail. Police said he was on active felony probation for a prior Metro Atlanta robbery when the slaying occurred. Investigators later arrested a second suspect, Jennifer McGowan, who was charged in connection with the case, according to WTVM.
Sentencing next month
According to Atlanta News First, Tyler will be sentenced May 11 in Troup County. Authorities told the outlet the guilty plea followed the recovery of physical evidence they say is tied to the killing. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed whether a negotiated agreement is part of the court file.
Why the case matters locally
The killing rattled neighbors who say Sunny Point is a longtime destination for early morning walks, and it prompted city officials to announce stepped-up patrols and outreach, according to WTVM. Local reporting also urged anyone with information to contact the LaGrange Police Department or Troup County Crime Stoppers as investigators prepared for the upcoming court date.
