Suspect charged in triple homicide that killed pro golfer Gene Siller
A suspect has been charged in the triple homicide that killed pro golfer Gene Siller on Saturday, officials said Thursday. Bryan Anthony Rhoden faces three counts of murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping, and is believed to be the lone shooter.
Many of the details surrounding the case remain unclear. Police previously said they found Siller's body on the green of the 10th hole at the Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Georgia, with a gunshot wound to the head, and also found the bodies of two other men who were shot in a white Dodge Ram 3500 pick-up truck on the golf course.
The other two men were identified as Paul Pierson and Henry Valdez. According to an arrest warrant obtained by CBS affiliate WGCL-TV, Rhoden allegedly abducted Pierson and Valdez and held them against their will. Rhoden then "bound the hands, legs, and mouth" of both men with tape, the warrant said.
Rhoden was arrested hours after the murder by Chamblee police for misdemeanor offenses including driving under the influence, providing false identification and having a fake license plate, according to WGCL-TV — but it took days for officials to link him to the murders.
Rhoden went before a judge for the first time Friday night. No bond was issued, and a separate bond hearing was scheduled for July 27, according to a WGCL-TV reporter.
During the Thursday press conference, officials did not offer additional details about why the crime occurred — but police previously said Siller was shot after he "happened upon a crime in progress."
"It does not appear he was in any way targeted, but rather was killed because he witnessed an active crime taking place," authorities said Tuesday.
Police also said the two dead men in the truck did not appear to have any relation to the location where the crime was committed.
Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox commended the detectives who worked to apprehend Rhoden.
"We literally have detectives that have worked round the clock and some have literally slept in their offices since July 3 trying to clear this case," Cox said.
