Gordon County and state authorities haven’t decided if a 16-year-old will be tried as an adult in the fatal shooting of her stepfather.
Alison Mary Gresham, 16, has been charged with killing her stepfather, Archie Lynn Defoor, 47, on Monday at their home in an unincorporated area of the county.
“This is an ongoing investigation so whether Miss Gresham will be tried as an adult or juvenile has not been decided,” Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Campbell said Wednesday.
According to a news release from Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston, someone called 911 early Monday afternoon to report the shooting at 1071 Resaca-Nickelsville Road. Deputies found Mr. Defoor dead from a gunshot wound.
Detectives arrested Miss Gresham after interviewing potential witnesses, collecting physical evidence and examining the crime scene, the sheriff said.
The Gordon Central High School 10th-grader initially was charged as an adult. That’s because she is accused of one what’s called the “Seven Deadly Sins” that can land Georgia children ages 13 to 17 in Superior Court. Those are murder, rape, armed robbery (with a firearm), aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and voluntary manslaughter.
Miss Gresham is being held in the Regional Youth Detention Center in Rome, Ga., Mr. Campbell said.
“There will be a bond hearing, then a preliminary hearing, then presentation to the grand jury,” he said.
He cited a similar case in Bartow County where a juvenile was tried as an adult, saying that decision will be made in Miss Gresham’s case only after charges are initiated.
Sheriff Ralston said there could be more arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
Or login with:
New Account