Kidnapping, murder suspect arrested in Dallas County

Published 6:20 pm Saturday, January 18, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Georgia fugitive was caught Saturday in Dallas County for a Georgia murder and kidnapping his infant son.

According to Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson, ALEA state troopers in Dallas County arrested Demonte Everett Mayes Jr., 23, hours after the murder and abduction of his biological son, 2-month-old Draco Leigh Mayes. The baby was recovered and is now in the custody of DHR.

Americus Police Chief Mark Scott said officers responded at 6:33 a.m. Saturday to a home on Carter Street in Americus, Georgia on a report of a person shot. Authorities identified the shooting victim as 21-year-old La’Warrior Gardener, who died a short time later at the hospital.

Email newsletter signup

An Amber Alert was issued in the abduction. Americus police worked with the Georgia Fusion Center to notify other law enforcement agencies of the abduction.

Scott said Alabama state troopers stopped Mayes on U.S. Highway 80 between Montgomery and Selma.

“He picked the wrong county to try to escape to,’’ Jackson said.

Mayes’ charges in Georgia including murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault and kidnapping.

Jackson said Mayes will make his first court appearance Tuesday in Dallas County District Court before Judge Bob Armstrong.