A Spalding County grand jury has formally charged two men in connection with a 1983 racially motivated murder.
Frank Gebhardt, 59, and Bill Moore Sr., 58, were indicted Tuesday for felony murder and four other charges in the brutal slaying of Timothy Coggins in October 1983, Griffin Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder said in a press release.
Credit: WSB-TV None Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Credit: WSB-TV None Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Coggins, 23, was found stabbed over twenty times in a grassy stretch of land off Highway 19, thirty miles southeast of Atlanta. The two men allegedly boasted to multiple witnesses about the brutal murder, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
One witness overheard Moore say he “missed the good ol’ days when you could kill a black man for no reason,” GBI Special Agent Jared Coleman testified last week in a hearing.
Attorneys for Gebhardt and Moore could not be reached for comment.
During a bond hearing in early November, District Attorney Ben Coker said Coggins was killed for "socializing with a white female."
Gebhardt and Moore are being held without bond in Spalding County.
Three other people, including two law enforcement officials, have also been charged in connection with the Coggins’ death.
Sandra Bunn and Lamar Bunn were charged with obstruction of justice in the case. Gregory Huffman, 47, was charged with violation of oath of office and obstruction of justice. Broder said no court date has been set for them.
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