Investigation Closed Into Inmate Death

Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian said that he has closed the investigation into the death of an inmate at the Stephens County Jail earlier this year.

Christian said that he found no evidence of any criminal matter or anything that appeared suspicious in the death of 24-year-old Barry J. Mullinax.

Mullinax, who was from the Liberty-Easley, South Carolina area, was found unresponsive in his single person cell at the Stephens County Jail on February 26.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said Mullinax was found with a piece of linen tied around his neck.

At the time of Mullinax’s death, Shirley said he called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in to investigate the case because it ensured transparency and allowed for unquestionable integrity within the investigation.

Then, a GBI Spokesperson stated in an e-mail update in early March that Mullinax attempted to commit suicide by hanging.

The GBI turned over its report to the DA’s office last month, stating that it was standard procedure in cases such as this to do that.

After reviewing the case, Christian said he informed both Sheriff Shirley and the GBI that he was closing the case.

Mullinax was being held at the Stephens County Jail on Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and other charges.

He was accused of stealing a car at gunpoint on February 22 in Stephens County after meeting up with the local seller through Craigslist and leading authorities on a chase that ended when Mullinax wrecked the stolen car on Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa.