Keisha Rena Cone and Rachel Savannah Ridley appeared before Judge David Smith Tuesday afternoon.  Both entered guilty pleas for their role in the death of 74-year-old James Edwards Stephens.  Stephens was murdered in his Country Lane home in August of 2017.  Cone entered a guilty plea to the reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and burglary.  She received a 40-year sentence, 20 to serve on probation and 15 years to serve incarcerated.  Ridley pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary.  She received a 40-year sentence 10 years to serve incarcerated (non-parole able) and 20 years to serve on probation.   Co-defendant Tevin Ray Harris entered a guilty plea in June and received a life sentence.

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Bartow County deputies arrested Tevin Ray Harris of Dalton on Tuesday afternoon for murder and armed robbery.

Tevin Ray Harris

This is in connection to a death investigation at a residence on Country Lane (off of SR 20 in Cartersville) on August 27th. Bartow County Sheriff’s Office investigators discovered that 74-year-old James Edward Stephens had been deceased there for some time. It was determined that Stephens had suffered blunt force injuries which led to his death.

Bartow County deputies arrested Rachel Savannah Ridley of Cartersville on September 8th and Keisha Rena Cone of Cartersville on September 13th for murder and armed robbery in the same case.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-382-5050 extension 6030.

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According to Sheriff Clark Millsap, Bartow County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators responded to a death investigation at a Country Lane address on August 27, 2017. There it was discovered that 74 year old James Edward Stephens had been deceased in his home for some time.

Bartow County Sheriff’s Office investigators working with the G.B.I. Medical Examiner’s Office and the Bartow County Coroner’s Office later discovered that Mr. Stephens had suffered blunt force injuries which led to his death.

Sheriff Millsap states that on Friday, September 8, 2017, investigators arrested Rachel Savannah Ridley, 19, of Cartersville. On Wednesday, September 13, 2017, investigators arrested Keisha Rena Cone, 20, also of Cartersville. Both are charged with Murder and Armed Robbery in connection with the death of Mr. Stephens at his home in August. A third arrest is expected in the case.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-382-5050 extension 6030.

Savannah Ridley