In the quiet community of Blue Ridge, Georgia, the life of Jennifer Criss Hooper Layman, a 54-year-old Caucasian woman, was tragically cut short on March 9, 2022. A dedicated licensed practical nurse, she was known for her passion for working with mothers and babies, as well as her love for gardening, cooking, and riding her motorcycle.
The events leading to the discovery of her death began when the Fannin County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a shooting on Loud Lane in Blue
Ridge. At the scene, they found one person shot but alive. The investigation into this incident quickly pointed to 48-year-old Vern Bennett as the person responsible for the shooting. Bennett was promptly located and taken into custody.
Following Bennett's arrest, law enforcement's investigation took a grim turn. The Fannin County Sheriff's Office and the Blue Ridge Police Department conducted a welfare check at a residence on Orchard Boulevard. It was there that they discovered Jennifer Layman deceased. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was then called in to assist with the investigation at both crime scenes.
Vern Bennett was subsequently charged with murder in connection to Jennifer Layman's death and aggravated assault for the shooting of the second victim, who was expected to survive. The case was turned over to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution, with Bennett being held without bail.
