In the quiet community of Powder Springs, Georgia, a grim discovery was made in the early morning hours of August 6, 2015. A red Pontiac Grand Am was found in a ditch off Parks Drive, and inside, a scene of tragedy unfolded. Twenty-two-year-old Catherine Costner and her 24-year-old husband, Anthony Costner, had been shot. Their 3-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle, physically unharmed but a silent witness to the violence that had claimed her parents' lives. Anthony Costner was pronounced dead at the scene, while Catherine was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The couple, from nearby Lithia Springs, had reportedly left their home after receiving a call to help someone.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly revealed that the incident was not a random act of violence. Powder Springs police determined that the Costners had arranged to meet with individuals on the night they were killed. This meeting, investigators believe, was related to a drug transaction that turned fatal. The quiet street where the Costners' car was found became the center of an intense investigation as police worked to piece together the events of that night and bring those responsible to justice. The community was left in shock, grappling with the brutal nature of the crime and the thought of the young child left orphaned.
Within days, the investigation led to arrests. Roy Hicks, 39, was identified as the primary suspect and was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on August 8. He was charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon, and cruelty to a child. Police believe Hicks was the one who fired the fatal shots. A second suspect, 22-year-old Demarco Thomas, was also arrested for his alleged involvement. Thomas faced charges of conspiracy to commit a violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, concealing the death of another, and hindering the apprehension of a felon.
A third individual, Raymond Ladell Webb, was later arrested in connection with the case. Webb was accused of facilitating the drug deal by using his phone to set up the meeting between the Costners and the other suspects. He was also alleged to have driven the suspected gunman, Roy Hicks, who had sustained a gunshot wound during the incident, to a hospital far from the crime scene and left him there without notifying law enforcement. Webb faced charges of concealing a death, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and a felony drug charge. The arrests brought a sense of relief to the community, as the individuals believed to be responsible for the tragic deaths of Catherine and Anthony Costner were now in custody.
