TIFTON — A man and a woman picked up by Tifton Police officers Saturday in response to a “Be On the Lookout” listing them as suspects in an armed robbery and a murder in Cook County have not been charged in the murder, but a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent said Tuesday that the GBI is looking to see if the two crimes are connected.
According to a Tifton Police Department incident report, Billy Jo Spires, born in 1981, and Jason Treadway, born in 1980, both shown as residing at 16 Cowart Circle in Adel, were turned over to Cook County investigator Brent Exum and two GBI agents.
A Tifton police officer found a 1996 Crown Victoria at the Tifton Econolodge early Saturday morning. He stated in his report that the vehicle matched the description of one posted on a BOLO that listed Treadway and Spires as suspects in “an armed robbery and murder in Cook County.”
GBI Agent Russell Mansfield, who is working with Cook County investigators on the Friday night murder of James “Buster” Statum of Sparks at the game room he owned at 305 Adams St., said Tuesday that no suspects have been arrested in connection with Statum’s case.
Mansfield also said that the Adel Police Department is in charge of the Adel armed robbery investigation for which Spires and Treadway were arrested and charged.
A spokesperson at the Adel Police Department said Tuesday that the police chief and other investigators who could give information on the robbery case for which the two were arrested were in training in another county and unavailable for comment.
Mansfield said that investigators haven’t yet determined exactly what the motive was for the murder of Statum, 72. Mansfield said that the game room was supposed to be open just before 8 p.m. Friday and it wasn’t and that is what made Statum’s relatives suspicious. Members of Statum’s family found him and called local police.
Authorities haven’t revealed the cause of Statum’s death. Mansfield said Tuesday that the results of an autopsy conducted on Statum’s body at the GBI’s Atlanta crime lab won’t be released until a suspect in the case has been arrested.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
Local News
No charges in murder
Two charged in armed robbery
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