Man accused of beating girlfriend to death with hammer

Less than a week after he allegedly beat his girlfriend to death, a Douglas County man has been indicted for murder, the county's district attorney said Friday.

Gary Lee Malone, 46, is accused of repeatedly striking Katrina West in the head with a hammer Nov. 2 at the Lithia Springs apartment the couple shared, according to DA David McDade and police. A Douglas County Grand Jury indicted Malone on Friday on one count each of murder and felony murder, McDade’s office said in an emailed statement.

Malone called police to the apartment, where they found West’s body. West, 36, was declared dead at the apartment and an autopsy was conducted at the GBI crime lab, Douglas County Coroner Randy Daniel previously said.