In the quiet suburbs of Buford, Georgia, the life of 43-year-old George Young was brought to a sudden and violent end on the night of November 17, 2017. A hardworking man, known for his dedication to his family and his security business, he had just returned home from a late shift. As he stood on his own front porch, with his keys still in the door, he was shot twice and collapsed, succumbing to his injuries at the scene. Inside the home were his wife of 22 years, Tia Young, their three sons, and a family friend, Harvey Timothy Lee.
In the immediate aftermath, Tia Young portrayed herself as a grieving widow, expressing her shock and questioning who would want to harm her husband. The initial theory floated by Tia was that the shooting might have been a random act of violence, possibly a gang initiation. However, as detectives from the Gwinnett County Police Department delved deeper into the case, they began to uncover a web of deceit and betrayal within the Youngs' own home. Investigators found numerous inconsistencies in the stories provided by Tia Young and Harvey Lee. It was soon discovered that the two were entangled in an intimate relationship, a secret they had kept hidden from George.
The investigation revealed that George Young, in an act of kindness, had invited Lee to live in his home and had even given him a job at his security company after Lee fell on hard times. This act of generosity was repaid with a sinister plot. Detectives uncovered evidence that Lee had placed a GPS tracking device on George's truck, allowing him and Tia to monitor his every move. The motive became clearer as investigators learned of a $1 million life insurance policy on George Young, with Tia as the beneficiary. Prosecutors would later argue that the affair, coupled with the potential for a substantial financial payout, was the driving force behind the murder.
In April 2018, both Tia Young and Harvey Timothy Lee were arrested and charged with malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in connection with George Young's death. During their trial, the prosecution presented a compelling case built on the evidence of the affair, the life insurance policy, and the GPS tracker. In April 2019, a jury found both individuals guilty. Tia Young was convicted of felony murder and aggravated assault and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Harvey Timothy Lee was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault and received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
