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A 23-year-old murder suspect was apprehended by Georgia law enforcement after they discovered a body in a nearby forest. The suspect was picked up as a hitchhiker by a man and his son, who were unaware of his criminal background. The investigation is ongoing, and another individual has been arrested in connection with the killing. Olivia Lloyd reported
In a recent incident reported by news outlets, a man and his son from Georgia were driving to collect a paycheck when they encountered a hitchhiker on the side of the road. Displaying his helpful nature, the man decided to offer the hitchhiker a ride, unaware of his true identity. It was later revealed that the hitchhiker was a murder suspect wanted in a multi-agency manhunt originating from North Carolina.
According to the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, they received information suggesting that the hitchhiker had committed murder and disposed of the victim’s body. Seeking assistance in their investigation, the deputies reached out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on August 6. The following day, law enforcement personnel from the state and county discovered the body in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
This discovery triggered a manhunt for the 23-year-old murder suspect, Keegan Cleve Phillips, which concluded near the small town of Gillsville, approximately 50 miles away from where the body was found. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including county sheriff’s offices, the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and the Georgia State Patrol, descended upon the area adjacent to Gillsville Highway.
Thanks to a tip-off from a Gillsville resident, Phillips was located on August 8 by a K-9 unit and subsequently arrested by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. He now faces murder charges. Additionally, another individual, a 62-year-old man from Lula, was also arrested in connection with the killing. He has been charged with concealing a death and unlawful disposal of a body. Both Phillips and the other suspect are currently detained at the Rabun County Detention Center.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the victim and the investigation remains ongoing. Gillsville, the location where the suspects were apprehended, is situated approximately 70 miles northeast of Atlanta..
