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Police ID woman killed in Athens motel fire

Police confirm that a woman died in an Athens motel fire early Monday morning.
By
May 19, 2014

Police identified the 34-year-old woman who was killed in a fire early this morning at a motel in Athens.

Anita Dantzer Watson, of Bogart, was found dead after a blaze around 1 a.m. at America’s Best Inn on Atlanta Highway. No other injuries were reported, Channel 2 Action News said.

Richard McGaha, 34, also of Bogart, was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property in the second degree in relation to this case, the Athens-Clarke County police said in a news release.

Watson’s body was transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Fire investigators have not said what sparked the fire, which damaged at least two second-floor rooms.

The investigation is continuing.

About the Author

Angel K. Brooks is a senior manager for the programming team, focusing on quality control. She has been with the AJC since 2007 and started as a sports copy editor. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University.

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