Georgia man gets life sentence for murder, hiding body in makeshift grave

Hollis Alan Bryant

Credit: Toombs County Sheriff’s Office

Credit: Toombs County Sheriff’s Office

Hollis Alan Bryant

A South Georgia man accepted a plea deal after police recovered the remains of a man reported missing last month, according to several media reports.

Hollis Alan Bryant, 24, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his role in the death of 26-year-old Brandon Colson, Savannah-based news station WTOC-TV reported.

Co-defendant Israel Timothy Williams, 19, did not accept the plea deal.

Israel Timothy Williams

Credit: Toombs County Sheriff's Office

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Credit: Toombs County Sheriff's Office

On Oct. 24, authorities found Colson’s body in a wooded area near Ponderosa Road in Toombs County, AJC.com previously reported. His family had reported him missing to the Lyons Police Department nearly three weeks prior.

RELATED: 2 arrested after South Georgia man's remains discovered in makeshift grave

Toombs County Sheriff Alvie Knight believes Colson was killed the day he went missing, WTOC reported.

Lyons police and GBI agents conducted multiple interviews, which led them to execute a search warrant on the property. The remains, which had been burned, were discovered by cadaver dogs in a makeshift grave in the area about 90 miles southeast of Macon.

Investigators said Colson borrowed money from Williams, leading Colson to be shot and killed during efforts to collect the debt, WTOC reported. Prosecutors did not know which suspect allegedly shot Colson.

Bryant and Williams were both arrested on a count of felony murder. Williams’ next court date has not been scheduled.

The investigation remains active, so anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI at 478-374-6988, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office at 912-526-6778 or the Lyons Police Department at 912-526-3638.

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