A quiet evening in the small community of Hill City, Georgia, was shattered by violence that claimed the life of a long-time resident. Paul Wyman Wilkey, a 70-year-old self-employed carpenter, was fatally shot on November 1, 2014. The incident unfolded at a residence on Trimble Hollow Road, sending shockwaves through the peaceful neighborhood. Wilkey, a man known in his community, was born in Gordon County on September 23, 1944.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led law
enforcement to a suspect. Dustin Keith Snyder, who was 26 years old at the time, was identified as the individual responsible for Wilkey's death. Authorities located Snyder in a wooded area not far from the scene of the crime. When he was found, he was reportedly attempting to start a brush fire. It is believed that an argument between Snyder and Wilkey escalated, leading to the fatal shooting.
Following his apprehension, Dustin Keith Snyder was taken into custody and subsequently charged with the murder of Paul Wyman Wilkey. He was booked into the Gordon County Jail to await legal proceedings. The arrest brought a swift, though somber, resolution to the initial phase of the investigation, leaving the community to mourn the loss of one of their own.
