Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Atlanta man, 78, charged with murder after body found in closet

Cleaster Adkins, 78, was charged with murder after Atlanta police found his roommate stabbed to death in a closet at their home in DeKalb County.
Cleaster Adkins, 78, was charged with murder after Atlanta police found his roommate stabbed to death in a closet at their home in DeKalb County.
By Joshua Sharpe
Jan 10, 2017

Atlanta police say a 78-year-old man stabbed his roommate to death and left the body in a closet.

Cleaster Atkins was charged with murder after he turned up with blood on his head, clothes and hands at a gas station nearby, authorities said Tuesday.

Police found the body of Kiwanis Brownlee on Monday after responding to the home at 1800 Memorial Drive around 3:30 a.m. Brownlee had turned 64 this month.

“First responding officers stated that blood was located in the living room, bathroom and one bedroom,” an officer wrote in a report. Brownlee “was located in the back bedroom closet with multiple stab wounds.”

Police said the motive isn’t yet determined.

Atkins, whose home is on a stretch of Memorial Drive that sits in DeKalb County, was booked Monday afternoon and remains held without bond.

RELATED: Cops: DeKalb teen robs Papa John's, shoots at cop before school arrest

RELATED: Cops: Suspect admits to killing DeKalb teen, leaving body in woods

RELATED: Shooter targeted man, shot him twice outside barbershop

Like DeKalb County News Now on  Facebook | Follow us on  Twitter and  Instagram

About the Author

Follow Joshua Sharpe on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

People line up outside the federal building in Atlanta that houses an immigration court and ICE office. Several cases in the court are at the center of a disciplinary proceeding against Norcross immigration lawyer Christopher Taylor. (Ben Hendren/AJC 2025)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Justices skeptical of Atlanta lawyer’s disbarment defense

Norcross immigration lawyer Christopher Taylor is asking the Georgia Supreme Court not to disbar him for allegedly abandoning six clients.

Arrest made in theft of unreleased Beyoncé music during Atlanta tour stop

Kelvin Evans, who has an extensive criminal history in Fulton County over the past two decades, was arrested in Hapeville following an investigation, authorities said.

Ex-DeKalb officer reindicted in 2022 shooting death in prosecutor’s redo

The DeKalb DA’s office reindicted ex-officer Russell Mathis in a fatal 2022 shooting after dismissing earlier charges to avoid a legal technicality.

The Latest

Marando Salmon, 37, was shot and killed by DeKalb County police on Nov. 4, 2022. (Courtesy of DeKalb County District Attorney's Office)

Credit: Provided by DeKalb County District Attorney's Office

Ex-DeKalb officer reindicted in 2022 shooting death in prosecutor’s redo

Justices skeptical of Atlanta lawyer’s disbarment defense

Lawsuit: College Park councilman pushed employee to carry out ‘vendettas’

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.