Crime & Safety
One Suspect in Custody, Two at Large, in Thursday Kidnapping
Because the investigation is ongoing, Sheriff Berry said many details can't be released.
Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry said Friday that Justin Jackson of Augusta is in custody for his involvement in an apparent kidnapping of Oconee resident Detrick Favors, 40. Favors apparently was taken from his home on Brown Road, near the Green County line off Salem Road, in Farmington on Thursday.
Authorities are looking for two other suspects, a man and woman, said Sheriff Berry.
At 10am on Thursday, Sheriff’s Office investigators got a call that Favors was being held for a significant ransom. Deputies and investigators went to Favors' house and found that someone had apparently shot and smashed open the front door and left the house through a rear window. Sheriff Berry said the place had been ransacked, and it seemed the intruders were searching for something.
Investigators discovered the kidnappers would be at the Publix Shopping Center at Butler’s Crossing for a ransom drop. They secretly watched the store and arrested the 24-year-old Jackson when he appeared at the Domino’s Pizza Restaurant next to Publix to pick up the money. Jackson was armed with a .32 caliber handgun.
Investigators searched several places for Favors. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office received a call that someone in Morgan County had found Favors walking along the road near Rutledge at 4:30pm. Morgan County deputies met with Favors and turned him over to Oconee Sheriff’s personnel. Favors had mild injuries suffered in the kidnapping. The ransom was not paid.
Besides the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, the investigation involves the U.S. Attorney’s Office out of Macon and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Federal charges are being contemplated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jackson is faces local charges of First Degree Burglary, Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault, and False Imprisonment. Additional charges may be added. He is being held in the Oconee County Jail, records show.
The sheriff said more information will be released at the appropriate time.
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