In the quiet community of Chatsworth, Georgia, the life of 27-year-old Kenneth Bunn was cut short in a tragic and calculated act of violence. On March 16, 2020, his body was discovered at the Carlton Petty Road bridge over the Conasauga River in Murray County. An investigation quickly determined that Bunn, a male, had been the victim of a homicide, having been shot at the location where he was found. The Murray County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, immediately began to piece together the events that led to his death.
Investigators soon focused on two individuals: Justin Payton Hooker, 20, and Nadya Catherine Swartz, 20. It was revealed that Swartz was Bunn's ex-girlfriend and was, at the time of the murder, in a relationship with Hooker. The motive for the killing appeared to stem from this troubled romantic triangle. Days before the murder, Swartz had suggested to Hooker that they should kill Bunn. Hooker agreed to the plan and purchased a. 22 caliber revolver from a member of his family. On the night of the murder, Swartz contacted Bunn, leading him to believe she wanted to reconcile. She lured him to the secluded location by the river, a place they had visited during their past relationship.
Once at the bridge, what began as a verbal argument escalated into a fatal confrontation. Hooker, who was also present, shot Bunn four times, with one of the wounds being to the head. After the shooting, Hooker and Swartz fled the scene, taking Bunn's cellphone with them. The investigation moved swiftly as a relative of Hooker's, concerned after hearing about Bunn's death, contacted the police to inform them about the gun sale. Within four days of the discovery of Bunn's body, both Justin Payton Hooker and Nadya Catherine Swartz were arrested and charged with his murder.
In March of 2021, both Hooker and Swartz pleaded guilty to the murder of Kenneth Bunn. Justin Hooker entered his guilty plea on March 10, followed by Nadya Swartz on March 31. During the legal proceedings, Hooker admitted to obtaining the firearm after Swartz suggested they kill Bunn. Swartz confessed to her role in devising the murder plot. Both were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. They will be required to serve a minimum of 30 years before being considered for parole. The firearm used in the murder was never recovered, as Hooker stated he had disposed of it in a dumpster.
