In the late hours of Valentine's Day 2019, the life of Samuel Stewart III, a 43-year-old African American man from Lithonia, Georgia, came to a tragic and violent end. What began as a prearranged drug deal in Augusta quickly devolved into a fatal robbery. Stewart had traveled to a residence at 1013 Hogan Street, where he was ambushed by a male suspect who shot him in the shoulder and stole his cash and other personal belongings.
The quiet street became the scene of a crime that would later unravel a conspiracy involving multiple individuals.
Following the shooting, a 29-year-old woman named Porsche Harris arrived at the Hogan Street house. Instead of rendering aid, she attempted to erase the evidence of the crime, using bleach and other chemicals to clean the scene. In a deceptive twist, Harris then drove the gravely wounded Stewart to a CVS Pharmacy parking lot. She presented herself to authorities as a Good Samaritan who had merely found an injured man in need of help. From the CVS, Stewart was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Samuel Stewart III's death led to the arrests of four individuals. Porsche Harris was charged with murder and armed robbery for her role in the crime and its cover-up. Three men were also implicated in the plot to rob Stewart, which ultimately led to his death. Marvin Griffin, Gary Thomas Jr., and 33-year-old Imanuel Richardson were all charged with murder. Richardson faced additional charges of armed robbery and weapons possession by a convicted felon. The investigation revealed that the four had conspired to lure Stewart to the residence under the pretense of a drug transaction with the intent of robbing him.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Marvin Griffin and Gary Thomas Jr. were indicted on charges of felony murder and malice murder. However, in a later development in July 2024, both men pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, bringing a partial resolution to a case that began with a violent betrayal and a calculated attempt to conceal the truth.
