Disturbing new allegations in case of Ga. teens shot execution-style
ATLANTA -- A detective told a judge in Atlanta Friday that a murder suspect said he watched two 17-year-olds in the parking lot of Georgia supermarket in the early morning before he fatally shot both in the head. A motive in the crime, however, remains unclear.
Local media report that Roswell Police Detective Jennifer Bennett was the only witness at the probable cause hearing for 20-year-old Jeffrey Hazelwood, who is charged with murdering Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson in Roswell in the early morning hours of Aug 1.
Bennett became emotional as she described how Hazelwood, 20, allegedly recounted the slayings to her,reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bennett said Hazelwood told her he watched the two as they were in Henderson’s car behind the Publix store. He said he then approached the car and opened the door.
Hazelwood said Carter confronted him, according to Bennett, trying to fight him to keep him out of the vehicle, the paper reports. Hazelwood then allegedly struck Carter with his gun and said he shot the teen because he was afraid of him.
Bennett said Hazelwood told him he ordered Henderson out of the vehicle, forced her to take her clothes off, and sexually assaulted her with his hand. He allegedly then forced her to face the car and put her hands on the hood, according to Bennett, and then spanked her and shot her in the head, the paper reports.
An autopsy report released Thursday said the victims appeared to have been posed after their deaths, with Henderson’s body in a “sexually suggestive” position and Davis’ arms spread out to each side.
Bennett said Hazelwood went to a nearby gas station wearing a Guy Fawlkes mask and used Henderson’s credit card, then returned to the scene and stole Davis’ jumper cables, apparently afraid his car would break down, according to the paper.
Hazelwood apparently stole the gun from his grandfather, Bennett said. Hazelwood had reportedly been raised mostly by his grandparents and had very recently been kicked out of their house.
Judge Karen Smith Woodson ruled there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. Henderson now also faces a new charge of sexual assault, reports CBS affiliate WGCL. He was already charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of felony murder, two counts of malice murder, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two countys of theft, and one count of identity fraud.
One of Hazelwood’s attorneys said tin court that the suspect suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the paper reports.
A judge bound the case over to be heard by Fulton grand jury Sept. 9. Hazelwood is being held without bail.
Hazelwood’s attorney, Lawrence Zimmerman, has said he’ll provide a vigorous defense.