Jerry Wayne Whitten, a 43-year-old white male, was found deceased by his co-workers in the early morning of November 16, 2016, in the parking lot of Springwood Nursery in Evans, Georgia, where he had been a dedicated employee for over 16 years. An investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office revealed that Whitten had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to his neck and another to his side torso.
The scene suggested he was attacked after closing the nursery for the night, as the office door was locked and the alarm had been activated. The county's deputy coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly led to a person of interest, Christopher Lamar Rumph, a 31-year-old co-worker of Whitten's. During a second interview with authorities, Rumph confessed to the shooting. While he admitted to the act, his motive for the killing remained unclear. A search of Rumph's residence resulted in the seizure of a firearm that was believed to be the weapon used in the homicide.
Christopher Lamar Rumph was subsequently arrested and faced multiple charges, including murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rumph had a prior criminal background and had been employed at the nursery for approximately two years. News reports indicated that he had been attempting to improve his life by attending school and working. The case against him was built upon his confession and the evidence recovered from his home.
