A Thanksgiving gathering in Acworth, Georgia, turned into a scene of tragedy when Michael Bradley DeLoach, a 58-year-old male, and his wife were fatally shot in their home on November 26, 2015. The violence erupted in the evening, shattering the peace of the holiday. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and the harrowing screams of a woman, prompting a call to the police. When officers arrived at the Camden Lake Drive residence, they discovered the bodies of DeLoach and his 60-year-old wife, Ellen.
The suspect in the double homicide was identified as Ellen DeLoach's son, 34-year-old Dustin Ray Dixon. He was found in the front yard of the home and was taken into custody by Cobb County police without incident. Two other family members who were present at the time of the shooting, Dixon's grandmother and aunt, managed to escape the house unharmed. Dixon was subsequently charged with two counts of murder, four counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
In the years following the tragic event, the legal proceedings against Dixon moved forward. After undergoing mental health evaluations and treatment, he was ultimately found competent to stand trial. In June 2019, Dustin Ray Dixon pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his mother and stepfather.
