In the early autumn of 2021, a grim discovery was made on the side of a busy Atlanta interstate. On the morning of October 3, a passing driver noticed what appeared to be a body on the shoulder of I-675 and immediately alerted the authorities. When Clayton County police arrived at the scene near the Grant Road overpass, they found the body of a woman who had been shot multiple times. The initial challenge for investigators was identifying the victim.
They released a police sketch to the public, hoping someone would recognize her. A key detail in their request for information was a distinctive tattoo on the woman's collarbone that read 'Reign.' This tattoo would prove to be instrumental in solving the mystery of her identity.
The public's help, spurred by the police sketch and the information about the tattoo, quickly led to the victim being identified as 30-year-old Cormella Thomas, an African-American mother. The name 'Reign' tattooed on her was the name of her one-year-old child. Friends and family were devastated by the news of her violent death, remembering her as a sweet and loving person. A friend, Andrew Gibson, expressed his heartbreak, saying she 'didn't deserve any of that.' The confirmation of her identity was a tragic turn for her loved ones, who learned that the young mother of three had been left on the side of the road after being fatally shot.
For over four years, the case of Cormella Thomas's murder remained a painful, unsolved chapter for her family and the community. The investigation was ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to seek information from the public. Then, in March of 2026, a significant breakthrough brought renewed hope for justice. The Clayton County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Marquavius Hendrix. Hendrix had been listed as the second most wanted person in Clayton County.
His capture was the result of a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Marquavius Hendrix was taken into custody and charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm in connection with the death of Cormella Thomas. While authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or whether Hendrix and Thomas knew each other, his arrest marked a pivotal moment in the long and arduous investigation. Hendrix is currently being held in the Clayton County Jail as the case against him moves forward.
