M E D I A R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Monday, August 4th, 2014
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
Body Believed to be That of Missing Man Found, 2 Arrested in Connection with Death, 3rd Suspect Captured Tuesday, August 5th
On Monday, July 28th, John Wesley Wood Jr, age 22, of 373 Baker Road, Calhoun, was reported missing to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office by his family. They reported that Wood was scheduled to leave Calhoun to return to Arkansas to live with his father. They also reported seeing two suspicious men and a suspicious vehicle at Wood’s apartment on July 24th, the last day that Wood was seen. A witness had seen the suspicious men and vehicle, and copied down a license plate number. Wood’s apartment was searched by deputies, who found no signs of a struggle inside or any other signs of violence. Neighbors were questioned as witnesses, family members were questioned for any potential leads, social media outlets were explored, investigating detectives requested intelligence reports from the GBI, and Mr. Wood was entered into the nationwide NCIC database as a missing person.
Detectives were following the lead on the license plate, which was from the metro Atlanta area, Friday afternoon, August 1st when a witness came forward with information which led deputies to believe that foul play could’ve been involved in Wood’s disappearance. This information developed into a number of other independent leads rapidly, and teams of detectives were deployed to follow each one. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent was also requested and assigned to assist the Sheriff’s detectives. About two dozen potential witnesses were identified and questioned over the course of the next 48 hours. Late Friday night, a ‘person of interest’ was arrested near a private residence on Craigtown Road by undercover deputies who’d been surveilling the home for several hours. This individual attempted to flee and resisted arrest, but was apprehended and incarcerated. Several items of physical evidence were also located and collected.
Saturday, August 2nd, Sheriff’s detectives continued interviewing potential witnesses and running down leads.
Sunday evening, August 3rd, a potential witness contacted the sheriff with fresh information which was soon corroborated by other statements and physical evidence which was known to the detectives and GBI agents.
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At approximately 1 a.m. Sunday morning, August 4th, deputy sheriffs located a badly decomposed body in a heavily wooded area just off a field road on a local farm in northwestern Gordon County. The Sheriff’s Office and the GBI have reason to believe that the body is that of John Wesley Wood Jr, although positive identification is pending examination by the GBI State Crime Laboratory in Decatur. Investigating detectives and GBI agents believe that Wood was killed during the late hours of Thursday, July 24th or the very early morning hours of July 25th.
This morning, the (Gordon County) Sheriff’s Air Unit located Wood’s missing pick-up truck in a remote area in southern Whitfield County. The truck has been removed and taken to the Sheriff’s Office where it will be examined for evidence.
Crime Scene technicians from both the Sheriff’s Office and the GBI are today (Monday, August 4th) executing search warrants at multiple locations where they expect to identify and collect additional physical evidence.
As of this time:
Nathan Michael Mahan, age 29 , of 708 Lick Creek Road, Ranger, Georgia, has been charged with Murder, Robbery, Parole Violation, and Obstructing Law Enforcement Officers.
Lelion L. Siskey, age 28 , of Craigtown Road, Calhoun, has been charged with Murder, and Robbery,
in connection with this investigation.
UPDATE: The 3rd suspect being sought in connection with Wood’s murder, Nathan Mark Neighbors, age 22, was apprehended by Floyd County deputy sheriffs near Rome at about noon, Tuesday, August 5th, and has been returned to Gordon County and lodged in the county jail, charged with Murder and Robbery.
UPDATE: 10:30am, Wednesday, August 6th, a fourth person, Stacie Charlene Ashworth, age 20, of 227 Sequoyah Circle, Calhoun, has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the murder of John Wesley Wood, Jr. Ashworth was arrested by deputy sheriffs yesterday evening at her home. She has been charged by Sheriff’s detectives with Giving False Statements and Concealing a Death. She is currently in jail pending bond proceedings. Detectives and GBI agents are still collecting and examining evidence as the investigation continues. The case will soon be referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Sheriff Ralston said, “This was a tragic case of a young life being needlessly taken. My staff has tirelessly worked around the clock for many days along with our law enforcement partners from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Natural Resources,, the Calhoun Police, the State Patrol, and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office to solve a very complicated case, and arrest the dangerous individuals who committed this crime. All of the resources available from my office were brought to bear in solving this case. My heart goes out to the victim’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them in their time of loss. The persons responsible will now face a Gordon County jury.”
This will be the final media release regarding this investigation.