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Sketch released of suspect in woman’s death at Covington Wal-Mart

The Covington Police Department has released sketches of the man accused of running over and killing 65-year-old Marsha Johnson in the parking lot of a local Wal-Mart on Monday. They also released a sketch of the female passenger in the suspect’s car. (Credit: Covington Police Department)
The Covington Police Department has released sketches of the man accused of running over and killing 65-year-old Marsha Johnson in the parking lot of a local Wal-Mart on Monday. They also released a sketch of the female passenger in the suspect’s car. (Credit: Covington Police Department)
Nov 18, 2015

Authorities — and potential tipsters — now have sketch to help identify the purse snatcher accused of running over and killing a woman Monday night at a Covington Wal-Mart.

The sketch, completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and released Wednesday afternoon by the Covington Police Department, shows a man with a dark goatee wearing a dark hat and hoodie. The suspect has previously been described as weighing between 250 and 300 pounds.

Authorities also released a sketch of a female passenger believed to be in the suspect’s car during the incident.

Marsha Johnson, 65, died Monday at Newton Medical Center, shortly after the unidentified man approached her outside the Wal-Mart at 103000 Industrial Blvd., just off Exit 95 on I-20 eastbound. The man stole Johnson's purse before jumping in his car and running her over multiple times, police said.

The man then drove off in the silver or gray, mid- to late-1990s Honda Accord. The car has damage on the driver’s side door and may have a dealer drive-out tag, police said.

Covington police have previously released surveillance footage of the incident. A reward in the case — provided by Crime Stoppers and Wal-Mart — was increased Wednesday to $10,000.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jerry Lee Roberts at 770-385-2196, 678-878-1615 or jerry.roberts@covingtonpolice.com. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.

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Tyler Estep hosts the AJC Win Column, Atlanta's new weekly destination for all things sports. He also shepherds the Sports Daily and Braves Report newsletters to your inbox.

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