Banks Co. Homicide Investigation Ongoing

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

More information is expected this week in the homicide investigation of a body found last Thursday in Banks County.

Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed said his officers discovered the body after being called to a home in Homer early Thursday morning.

“Authorities were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at 1100 block of McDonald Circle at approximately 1a Thursday morning,” Speed said. “The occupants of the residence allowed deputies entrance into the home where they located a deceased person.”

Speed said it appeared the victim had been dead for several days.

Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were called in to assist and according to Banks County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Carissa McFaddin, a resident of the home was later arrested.

“After investigative interviews, along with the autopsy of the body, Billy Charles Lewallen has been charged with malice murder, and also concealing a dead body,” McFaddin said. “Currently, the body is being held at the GBI Crime Lab for identification confirmation.”

The identity of the victim is expected to be released this week, according to McFaddin as well as details on the murder itself.

Meantime, the 49-year old Lewallen is being held in the Banks County Detention Center.

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