In the quiet town of Eastman, Georgia, a tragedy unfolded on a Sunday afternoon, leaving a community in mourning and a workplace stunned. On December 15, 2019, 36-year-old Tina Marie Austin, a female employee at Eastman Healthcare and Rehab, was found deceased outside the facility where she worked. Her life was cut short in an act of violence that also claimed the life of her assailant.
The incident, which occurred around 1:29 p.m.
at 556 Chester Highway, prompted a swift response from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, who then requested the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Alongside Tina's body was that of 25-year-old Charlie Kiundre Barnes Jr. of Sandersville. Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. The subsequent investigation by the GBI revealed a grim sequence of events.
Investigators determined that Barnes and Austin were in a romantic relationship and were also coworkers at the healthcare facility, though only Austin was on duty at the time of the incident. The investigation concluded that Barnes shot and killed Austin before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide. Autopsies performed at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur confirmed that both individuals died as a result of gunshot wounds, and the findings were consistent with the investigators' conclusions.
The case was classified as a murder-suicide, an isolated act of violence stemming from their personal relationship. No further suspects were sought, and no other arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Tina Austin and Charlie Barnes. The investigation was considered closed following the confirmation of the murder-suicide.
