In the quiet town of Hazlehurst, Georgia, a deeply rooted member of the community, Marcos Suárez Ramirez, a 54-year-old Hispanic male, met a violent and unexpected end on the evening of January 4, 2021. For three decades, he had built a life in Hazlehurst, a place far from his birthplace in Jalpan de Sierra Querétaro, Mexico. He was a dedicated employee at Telfair Forest Products and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
His life, however, was tragically cut short in a brutal act of violence that shook the local community.
The events of that fateful night unfolded at his daughter Brittany's residence on Mark Hall Drive. It was there that three armed individuals, their faces obscured by masks, confronted Ramirez with the intent to rob him, acting on the false belief that he was in possession of a large amount of cash. The armed men, later identified as Douglas L. Wooten, 41, his son Denver L. Wooten, 19, and Kegan B. Bennett, 40, accosted Ramirez at the door. A struggle ensued, and in the chaos, a fatal shotgun blast fired by Bennett claimed Ramirez's life. The investigation at the scene would later uncover shell casings from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a revolver, indicating other weapons were discharged during the violent encounter.
The investigation into the murder of Marcos Suárez Ramirez was swift, with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Office quickly identifying and apprehending the suspects. The evidence against them was overwhelming and included confessions, as well as the discovery of firearms, cell phones, zip ties, and clothing that connected them to the crime. It was revealed that Douglas Wooten, a former colleague of Ramirez, was the architect of the robbery plot. He enlisted the help of his son, Denver, along with Bennett and a fourth accomplice, Verlyttia Raiford, 33, to carry out the plan that ended in tragedy.
In May of 2022, the four co-defendants appeared in Jeff Davis County Superior Court and accepted plea deals. Douglas L. Wooten, Denver L. Wooten, and Kegan B. Bennett all pleaded guilty to felony murder. Verlyttia Raiford pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery for her role in the crime. Additionally, Denver Wooten entered a guilty plea for the aggravated assault of Brittany Ramirez, who was present during the horrifying attack on her father. The resolution of the legal proceedings brought a measure of closure to a case that had deeply affected the Hazlehurst community.
