DA Now Has Report on Inmate Death

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation report on the death of an inmate at the Stephens County Jail is now in the hands of the District Attorney.

Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian said that his office received a copy of the report from the GBI into the death of 24-year-old Barry J. Mullinax on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Mullinax, who is 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.

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

According to the GBI, it is standard procedure to turn over its report to the D.A. in investigations such as this.

The GBI said it cannot release any information on the report at this time because it is an ongoing investigation.

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.