Police: Suspect in fatal DeKalb hit-and-run returned, drove past body

Earl Barnes III

Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Earl Barnes III

A driver accused in a fatal hit-and-run drove past the crime scene before deciding to leave the scene, according to a DeKalb County police accident report.

Earl Barnes III doubled back to see what he had hit, but kept going, a witness told police. The victim was identified as Monica Tamez, 39, of Tucker, in the Sunday night hit-and-run in Stone Mountain.

The witness told police he was “several car lengths” behind Barnes’ maroon Ford Expedition on Redan Road when he saw some thing fly up in the area, according to the report.

Soon after passing Chapman Circle, the witness told police he saw a body laying on the side of the road.

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That’s when Barnes turned back around to see what he had hit, according to the police report. The witness told police one of the headlights on Barnes’ SUV was hanging off and the right rear brake light was broke. There was also moderate damage to the front end of the hood.

As the witness sat at a stop sign on Muirfield and Redan roads, he watched Barnes continue to drive pass the body, according to the report.

The witness followed Barnes but was unable to get a license tag.

Barnes, 49, of Stone Mountain, is out of jail on bond, according to DeKalb jail records. He faces first-degree vehicular homicide and hit-and-run charges.

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