Scott Backhaus, a 41-year-old man, was shot and killed on the night of Friday, August 28, 2020, in Cleveland, Georgia. The incident occurred at a residence on Holiness Campground Road, prompting a 911 call to the White County Sheriff's Office at approximately 10 p.m. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Backhaus deceased.
Following an immediate investigation into the shooting, authorities identified 27-year-old Gary Blane Stephens as the suspect. Stephens, also a resident of Cleveland, was arrested and subsequently charged with aggravated assault and felony murder in connection with Backhaus's death. The White County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting but did not release further details to the public in the initial days following the incident.
In February 2021, a White County grand jury formally indicted Gary Blane Stephens on multiple charges, including malice murder and felony murder, for his alleged role in the death of Scott Backhaus. The case then proceeded through the legal system. As of the latest available information, details regarding a trial, verdict, or sentencing for Stephens have not been publicly disclosed.
