4^th UPDATE - (January 5, 2015, Lawrenceville, Georgia) The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit has charged Kathryn Voight (W/F, 27 years old) and Marckell Honeycutt (B/F, 16 years old) in the murder of Brian Whitfield.  They are charged with one count each of armed robbery and felony murder.  Marquavis Benton and Kathryn Voight remain in custody at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.  Marckell Honeycutt remains in custody at a Regional Youth Detention Center; she has been charged as an adult due to the nature of the crimes.  Information on the exact roles they played will not be released at this time.

3^rd UPDATE - (December 15, 2014, Lawrenceville, Georgia) The suspect in this case has been identified as Marquavis Benton (B/M, 26 years old).  The Griffin Police Department assisted the GCPD Homicide Unit in arresting Benton on Friday, December 12, 2014.  He has been transferred to the Gwinnett County Detention Center, where he remains in custody without bond.  He has been charged with armed robbery and felony murder.

2^nd UPDATE - (December 10, 2014, Lawrenceville, Georgia) The victim’s stolen truck was recovered last night in Atlanta.  The vehicle was unoccupied and had been partially stripped.  Several tipsters have called in and detectives are now following up on those leads.  They have not named suspects at this point, and no one is in custody.  The investigation is ongoing.

1^st UPDATE - (December 8, 2014, Lawrenceville, Georgia) The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating this case.  The address where the victim was discovered, 1735 Flowery Branch Road, was the victim’s home.  The homicide appears to have occurred in the course of a home invasion robbery.  There were items missing from inside residence, and the victim’s truck was also stolen and has not been recovered.  The truck is particularly distinct: a 2005 Dodge Ram “Rumblebee” edition with Georgia tag PCY 1995.  The truck is a single cab, black with a yellow stripe near the tailgate.  Photos of a truck of the same make and model are attached (not the actual truck).  Detectives have not identified any suspects at this time.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-557-TIPS (8477), or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.  Crime Stopper’s tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible to receive up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment.  To speak directly to a detective, tipsters should call 770-513-5300.

ORIGINAL RELEASE - (December 6, 2014, Lawrenceville, Georgia) On December 6, 2014 at 9:48 a.m., Gwinnett County Police Department officers responded to 1735 Flowery Branch Road, unincorporated Auburn, in reference to a “person down” call.  A passerby noticed a male lying in the driveway of the residence and called 911.  Officers arrived on scene and located Mr. Brian Whitfield (W/M, 45 years old) deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.  This is an ongoing investigation and there are no suspects at this time.