The latest session of the DeKalb County Grand Jury has resulted in numerous indictments, including defendants accused of kidnapping, murder, and aggravated rape.
On Tuesday, March 11, the Grand Jury indicted 34-year-old Timothy Ryan Lawson of Poss Road, Smithville, for especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated rape, two counts of rape, aggravated assault, and interference with emergency calls, for a case that occurred in December 2024.
On December 14, 2024, a sheriff’s department detective responded to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital on a report of a possible rape. Upon arrival, the detective made contact with the victim who stated that the previous evening, Lawson displayed a large knife and told her that she was to have sex with him and do as he asked or he would kill her.
The man allegedly took the victim’s phone, and caused the victim to believe that if she attempted to call for help it would place her in fear of serious bodily injury or death. Authorities say the man then raped the victim a total of five times until the morning of December 14.
The Grand Jury also indicted a man accused of causing the death of 39-year-old Earl Craig Asbury, Jr. in August 2024. William Anthony McKenzie, 66, of Streamer Drive, Smithville, was indicted for second degree murder.
DeKalb Chief Deputy Brian Williams said that Central Dispatch received a call of a possible shooting at 163 Streamer Drive, in the Four Seasons area of the county. The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene at 7:05 p.m. and made contact with Mckenzie, and found a deceased male laying in the yard, identified as Asberry.
The warrant against McKenzie stated that, “McKenzie, by his own admission, did intentionally and knowingly discharge a firearm striking the victim, Asberry, multiple times in the torso area, resulting in his death.”
Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, the investigation revealed that McKenzie allegedly made several attempts to hide the body, as well as making comments of removing the body from the scene.
In another case, 43-year-old John Brent Williams of Four Seasons Road, Smithville, was indicted by the Grand Jury for especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and two counts of aggravated assault.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 16, 2024, a deputy responded to the Sheriff’s Department for a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with two people who advised that the day before Williams, their grandson, pointed a handgun at both subjects, strangling one and dragging her by the hair on her head. He also reportedly would not let the victims leave the residence.
The victims reported that Williams went into one of the victim’s bedrooms and took a handgun without their consent. Williams allegedly held the grandmother at gunpoint, while telling the grandfather to give him the keys to their vehicle, a 2017 black Ford Escape, worth $11,000. The grandfather handed him the keys, then Williams left in the vehicle.
Williams was arrested on other charges in December in Kentucky and extradited back to DeKalb County.
Others indicted by the Grand Jury include:
Jill Henderson for disrupting a meeting and/or procession.
Hani Mohammad Sirhan Ittayem for possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver, possession of a schedule II drug cocaine over 0.5 grams with intent to sell/deliver, and evading arrest.
Amanda Lanette Knowles for filing a false report.
Keith Clifford Lafreniere for three counts of violation community supervision of life and violation of the sex offender registry.
Shane Curtis Gardner for aggravated assault.
Jay Lee Mullican for possession of a schedule II drug (amphetamine) with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Willie Ray Murphy for possession of a schedule II drug ( meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver.
William Joseph Scott for DUI, DUI per se, and possession of a handgun while under the influence.
Markus Jay Majka for evading arrest and resisting arrest.
Howard Robert Mayo, Jr. for possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver.
Martha Renee Kirby Norris for possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver and possession of a schedule I drug (heroin) with intent to sell or deliver.
Jeremy Trent Sanders for DUI and DUI per se.
Michael Lynn Vance for simple possession of a schedule II drug (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Matthew Dewayne Griffith for false reports.
Jason Richard Skaroupka for two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams, felony possession of a handgun, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Carlos Edward Lopez Stiff for aggravated assault.
Destry Jordan Wiggins for DUI and DUI per se.
