GBI search for wanted South Carolina man in Habersham County

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is searching for a South Carolina man in connection with a home invasion in Habersham County earlier this month that resulted in the injuries of an elderly couple.

Meantime, another man from Union County, SC is behind bars awaiting extradition to Habersham County on charges related to that home invasion.

According to the GBI, 38-year old James Childers II, 38, of Union, South Carolina, was arrested at his home on unrelated drug charges by the Union County South Carolina Sheriff’s Office.

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, at approximately 9:30 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Office was requested by the Baldwin Police Department to investigate a home invasion on Spring Street which occurred earlier that morning.

Agents traveled to Union, South Carolina, and with the help of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, evidence was obtained which further confirmed the suspects’ involvement in the home invasion.

Agents said they believed Childers II and another individual, now identified as 44-year-old Kevin Knox of Union entered the Habersham County residence, tied up the elderly couple living there, and beat them with a pistol – causing the woman to break her hip.

The suspects reportedly left with $80,000 of stolen cash.

Fox Carolina News reports Union County deputies met with Childers II at his home to inquire about the incident.

While speaking with him, Union County deputies say he admitted to driving an individual to Georgia near the crime scene.

A search warrant was executed of Childers’ home and deputies say they collected numerous items, including a cache of weapons and ammunition, over $30,000 in cash, a new Honda 4-wheeler, and a quantity of marijuana.

Many of the items confiscated, deputies believe were purchased with the stolen money.

Warrants have been issued for Knox on charges of one count of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of elder abuse.

Meanwhile, Childers is in jail in South Carolina awaiting extradition to Georgia.