Catherine Rusoff
More than a decade after three people were found dead inside an abandoned car on the side of a Georgia highway, authorities have arrested four suspects. Among those in custody is an assistant principal at a high school outside of Birmingham, Alabama, a CBS affiliate. WAKA-TV reported.
Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted that man, 45-year-old Keante Harris, on three counts of first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the 11-year-old murders. The indictment also charged three other suspects, Kenneth Thompson, Kevin Harris and Darrell Harris, with three counts of first-degree murder, Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen said. in a statement.
Jefferson County Jail
Authorities say the murders occurred in Clayton County, south of Atlanta. The investigation into the crimes showed that the three victims were tortured and killed before their bodies were placed in a 2010 Dodge Charger that was eventually discovered along Interstate 85 near nearby Union City. Union City police found their bodies inside the vehicle on Jan. 13, 2013, according to Allen’s statement.
“The victims were lured to a residence on Magnolia Drive in Jonesboro where they were forced into the residence at gunpoint. They were later placed in the back seat of a Dodge Charger and driven to Fulton County,” the sheriff said.
WAKA-TV reported that the victims were beaten and strangled to death. They were identified as Cheryl Colquitt-Thompson, Quinones King and Rodney Cottrell, all residents of Montgomery, Alabama, according to the station.
Allen said the Clayton County Police Department and the district attorney’s office continued to investigate the murders and recently obtained grand jury indictments. The four suspects were arrested for evading warrants in three different states between Wednesday and Friday last week, Allensaid. Booking records show Harris is being held at the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham.
Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, the district where Harris works, confirmed his position as assistant principal at McAdory Middle School in a statement to WAKA-TV.
“We were informed that Mr. Keante Harris was arrested on Wednesday afternoon,” Gonsoulin said. “We are currently still gathering facts about the specifics of this situation. However, early indications are that the charges are not related to this individual’s employment with Jefferson County Schools. Per standard procedure, Mr. Harris has been placed on paid administrative leave. As more facts become available, we will act in accordance with our district policy.”
CBS News contacted the school district for more information but did not immediately receive a response.
