Desmond Lavonta Brown has been sentenced to life without parole in Cherokee County, Alabama after being convicted of the murder of two Rome sisters three years ago.
Brown was found guilty of capital murder on Nov. 21 and was sentenced on Monday.
Brown had faced the death penalty.
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Details have been released regarding the double murder of Vanita Nicole Richardson and Truvenia Campbell that occurred earlier this year. According to GBI Special Agent Ghee Wilson, the half-sisters were allegedly shot and killed because of a missing wallet.
In a probable cause hearing in front of Floyd County Superior Court Judge Jack Niedrach, Wilson stated that the case started at a birthday party for Desmond Brown at his home on Cave Spring Street on the 12 of May.
According to testimony Brown was partying with several people including Richardson, Campbell, Devin Watts and Christopher Pullen.
Reports said that after Campbell and Richardson left the party, Brown discovered that his wallet was missing, and assumed that the sisters must have stole it.
Brown, Watts and Pullen proceeded to get into Brown’s Volkswagen Phaeton and set out to get his wallet back. The men went and picked up the sisters before going for a ride. Wilson said that Brown was the driver with Pullen riding in the passenger seat and with Watts in the back seat along side Campbell and Richardson.
Authorities used cellphone records to show that the vehicle traveled to Alabama along backroads from Rome and pack. At one point during the drive Brown pulled over to question the women about the missing wallet. After getting back in and driving more Brown pulled over again and ordered them out, this time by gunpoint. This is where things went bad and Campbell began to fight back.
Wilson said that Brown shot Campbell multiple times before turning the gun on Richardson and shooting her twice. Their bodies were loaded in the truck of the car. The suspects began to drive again, making multiple stops before the final destination for the sisters. Wilson said that the men stopped at a Mapco on U.S. 411 to buy three pairs of gloves, a water and cigar. They also stopped at Callier Forest Apartments to sell synthetic marijuana before traveling to the bypass where they dumped the sister’s bodies over a bridge.
Reports said that Pullen told authorities that Brown had a Glock 9mm and Watts had a .38 revolver, in which was used to kill the victims.
Their bodies were discovered the next day, May 13, by GDOT crews doing bridge inspections near Grizzard Park.
That same morning, Brown, Watts, Pullen and four other men, who were described as Blood gang members, traveled from Rome to the home of Terry Lorenzo Wheeler on Chapel Road in Atlanta.
Wilson said that Dion Wade, Jatavious Smith, Devion Neal and Xavier Cheeks followed Brown and Watts to Atlanta. Brown drove his own car with Pullen riding as a passenger. Watts allegedly drove the victim’s Toyota Corolla.
During the trip, while stopping to eat, Brown’s mother called to notify him that she found his wallet, it was sitting behind the TV in the living room.
Wilson said that Pullen, who was riding with Brown, said that Brown became mad and said, “I just got two bodies for nothing.”
Wilson said the men took the Toyota to a wooded area off Buffington Road in Union City and burned it. It was later found with cooperation from one of the suspects.
Most of the evidence was burned but a vehicle identification number was recovered. DNA belonging to the victims was also recovered in the trunk.
Arrest of the suspects began four days later.
The case will now go before a grand jury for indictment.
The RNT contributed to this story.
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Another man, Xavier Cortez Cheeks, 32 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he lied to police during a double homicide investigation.
Reports said that Cheeks made numerous false statements to authorities about the murders of
Cheeks is charged with two counts false statements and writings.
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The GBI on Thursday announced the arrest of three men, Desmond Lavonta Brown, 28, Devin Lashawn Watts, 36, and Christopher Leedarious Pullen, 23, for the double murder of two Rome women in May.
The bodies of Vanita Nicole Richardson and Truvenia Clarece Campbell were found dead under the Etowah River Bridge on the Rome bypass back on May 13th. Sources indicate that the two women had bags over their heads and with gunshot wounds.
The GBI added that additional arrests are pending as their investigation continues.
Desmond Lavonta Brown, 28, is charged with two counts murder, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and probation violation.
Devin Lashawn Watts, 36, is charged with two counts murder, two counts aggravated battery, two counts aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by taking, tampering with evidence, false statements and writings, two counts abandonment of a dead body and possession of a fire arm during the commission of a felony.
Christopher Leedarious Pullen, 23, is charged with two counts murder, two counts murder two counts murder aggravated battery, two counts murder aggravated assault, two counts murder abandonment of a dead body, three counts tampering with evidence, theft by taking, false statements and writings, criminal trespass, drugs not in original container and possession of a schedule II controlled substance.
According to GBI Director Vic Reynolds, “This took a great deal of man hours and work. We’ve executed over 130 search warrants and court orders in this case. The GBI worked 2.993 man hours alone since the case broke in May.”
He added, “I want to take a moment to tell these victim’s families how much we appreciate their patience.”
The missing vehicle of the women have also been located.
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A man charged in connection with a double murder last week, Desmond Lavonta Brown, 28 of Rome, has been booked into the Floyd County Jail for the second time in days. This time on numerous drug distribution charges.
Reports said that a search warrant was issued for Brown’s vehicle. GBI agents stated that in the process they located a quantity of cocaine and marijuana that was individually packaged along with scales and packaging materials.
Brown is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, manufacture or distribute a controlled substance, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and probation violation.
Additional story on Brown:
June 2019
Desmond Lavonta Brown, 27 of Rome, was arrested this week after he allegedly rammed his car into a vehicle belonging to a 24 year-old man at a high rate of speed.
Reports stated that the victim’s vehicle was forced off the road and proceeded to strike two power polls and a sign.
The incident occurred after Brown went the victim’s home, which violated his bond, in an attempt to intimidate the victim.
The incident occurred back on June 8th
Brown is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, hit and run, aggressive driving and reckless driving.
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The GBI has confirmed that the two arrest made this week, Desmond Lavonta Brown, 28, and Devin Lashawn Watts, 36, are in connection with the double murder in Rome last week,
The GBI stated, “These arrests were the results of search warrants executed on apartments and vehicles based on leads that were developed and tips received from the GBI Tip Line. This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information pertaining to this this case is urged to contact the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).”
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GBI agents arrested Devin Lawhawn Watts, 36 of Rome, this week on gun charges.
Reports said that Watts, who was a convicted felon, placed a Glock .380 caliber firearm in a closet at an apartment on Dodd Blvd.
The firearm had been reported stolen out of Pickens County.
Watts is charged with theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Watts was taken into custody with Desmond Brown (below) at the Callier Forrest Apartments on Monday, but Watts was not booked into the jail until much later. His report did not appear to the media until Wednesday morning.
We have again reached out to GBI agents for comment on whether this arrest is tied to the double murder last week.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Desmond Lavonte Brown, 28 of Rome, this week following an incident at the Callier Forest Apartments on Dodd Blvd.
According to reports, after being told not to get into a vehicle Brown attempted to do so. The GBI added that while being detained Brown resisted law enforcement and had to be detained.
The incident occurred at the K buildings in the apartment complex
We have reached out to GBI officials in regards to if the arrest is in connection with the double murder of Vanita Nicole Richardson and Truvenia Campbell last week.
Arrest reports did include the detail “see case file”, but GBI declined to comment on case file.
Brown is charged with obstruction.
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Investigators seeking assistance:
The vehicle attached belonged to the victim Vanita Richardson. The investigation has shown that both Vanita Richardson and Truvenia Campbell were in this vehicle during the evening hours of Tuesday, May 12, 2020. The vehicle’s location is not known at this time but investigators believe that it could be somewhere in the Metro Atlanta area. Anyone with information concerning this vehicle or the investigation, please contact the GBI tipline at 1-800-597-8477.
1997 Toyota Corolla
Gold in color
Georgia license plate: RTJ6295
Please note that the attached photograph is NOT the actual vehicle, but is the same mak
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Two bodies were removed from an area underneath a bridge on the Loop 1 near Grizzard Park Wednesday afternoon.
Reports said that the bodies were discovered by a DOT crew doing work on the bridge.
According to the Floyd County Coroner’s office the victims have been identified as 19 and 30 year-old females.
Family and friends of Vanita Richardson, 19, and her sister Truvenia Campbell. 30, went to social media Wednesday to mourn the loss of the women. Richardson was a senior at Armuchee High School.
Authorities also did not state how long they may have been at the location.
The GBI has asked for the community’s assistance to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity along the bypass near Grizzard Park between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Please contact the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) with any information pertinent to the investigation,” according to a midday news release from the agency.
Initial reports also stated that the victims had bags over their heads and that discharged shotgun shells were found in the area.
A statement from Floyd County School reads, “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the news of the death of one of our students, Vanita Richardson who was scheduled to graduate next Saturday. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Armuchee Community and her friends and family at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Vanita will be remembered for being a fun-loving, humble, and motivated student who was making strong plans for her future.
Even throughout the school closures, Vanita’s passing is felt by all. In particular, the staff members whose lives she touched with her caring personality and big heart.
The Armuchee High social worker and counselor will be available for virtual grief and loss counseling sessions. Students who are interested should email them directly.”
Check back later as details become available.
