PHENIX CITY, Ala. (AP) - Jealously appeared to be behind the abduction and slaying of a Georgia woman whose body was dumped in Alabama, authorities said Tuesday.
Tameka Skinner, 39, of Columbus, Georgia, was shot early Monday and her body was left in Seale, Alabama, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said.
Skinner was abducted around 1 a.m. Monday from a Columbus apartment complex where four suspects - three men and a woman - attacked her and her boyfriend, according to the sheriff.
Taylor said among the suspects was Demetria Johnson, 30, who had a previous relationship with Skinner’s boyfriend, The Ledger-Enquirer reported.
“At this point in the investigation, the motive appears to be jealousy,” Taylor said in a statement, adding that Johnson had children with Skinner’s boyfriend. “Demetria recruited the other three men to help her with the kidnapping and killing of Tameka Skinner, to get her out of the way.”
Taylor identified the other suspects as Jayvonn Phillips, 23, of Seale; and Shaun Johnson, 40, and Joshua Tolbert, 30, both of Columbus. Along with Demetria Johnson, each is charged with kidnapping and capital murder, he said.
It was unknown if any of the suspects had attorneys who could speak on their behalf. All are being held in the Russell County Jail, waiting to appear Wednesday before a judge, said Madison Grantham, a prosecutor with the county district attorney’s office. She said the four are expected to remain held without bond, as they are facing a capital offense.
Their arrests followed an hourslong investigation across two states. Authorities said the case also involved a car chase from Seale to Wetumpka, where the four suspects were captured after their vehicle wrecked. Deputies found Skinner’s car, partially burned, soon after the chase. A few hours later, they found her body.
Taylor said a handgun believed used in the killing was recovered. He added that investigators think they know which suspect shot Skinner.
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