In the autumn of 2014, the life of Timothy Carthan Jr., a 36-year-old African American man, was tragically cut short in College Park, Georgia. On the night of October 3rd, officers responded to a call at the West Cove Apartments on West Fayetteville Road to find Carthan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The violent nature of his death prompted an immediate and intensive homicide investigation by the College Park Police.
In the painful aftermath, Carthan's family revealed that with his last breaths, he was able to provide information to the police that would point them toward his assailants. This crucial piece of information led investigators to identify two primary suspects: Fernando 'Smoochie' Bennefield, then 22, and Marquis Antonio Acree, then 30. Believed to be armed and dangerous, a manhunt for the two men ensued, with law enforcement and Carthan's grieving family publicly appealing for them to turn themselves in. The motive for the shooting was thought to be an ongoing dispute between Carthan and the suspects.
After a search that lasted for several months, both Bennefield and Acree were apprehended and charged with the murder of Timothy Carthan Jr. The case proceeded to trial, where the prosecution presented its evidence, including the testimony of four witnesses. Carthan's family was hopeful that they would receive justice for their loved one, a father of six who was remembered as a loving and protective figure in his community. They believed the evidence presented was more than enough to secure a conviction.
However, the trial did not conclude as the family had anticipated. In May 2017, a jury acquitted both Fernando Bennefield and Marquis Acree of the murder charges. While they were found not guilty of taking Carthan's life, the jury did convict them on charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The verdict was a devastating blow to Carthan's family, who had waited nearly three years for a different outcome. The Clayton County District Attorney's Office expressed disappointment with the jury's decision but respected their service. For the firearms conviction, the two men were scheduled for sentencing later that month, leaving a family to grapple with a legal conclusion that brought them little peace.
