In the summer of 2015, the community of Long County, Georgia, was shaken by the unexpected death of 52-year-old Russell Otis 'Rusty' Bailey. On June 24th, the Long County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting a man had been shot at a hunting club near the Long County Board Landing. When deputies and investigators arrived at the scene, they discovered the lifeless body of Bailey, a resident of the area.
Initially, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that foul play was not
suspected in Bailey's death. However, as the investigation progressed, new information came to light. The case was eventually presented to a Long County grand jury by the Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. In a dramatic turn of events, nearly seven months after Bailey's death, the grand jury returned an indictment.
On January 29, 2018, Sherry Jane Bailey, the wife of the deceased, was arrested and charged in connection with his shooting death. The charges brought against her were significant and included malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. Following her arrest, Sherry Jane Bailey was held without bond.
