In the early morning hours of May 26, 1994, 43-year-old Sharon Varnadore Chancey was brutally murdered in a calculated act of violence that began with a deceptive plea for help. The chain of events leading to her death was set in motion by James Allyson Lee, who, along with his girlfriend, had initially planned to kill his own father and steal his pickup truck. When they discovered his father was not home, their deadly focus shifted to Chancey, his live-in girlfriend.
The plot unfolded when Lee's girlfriend lured Chancey from her home in Pierce County, Georgia, under the false pretense that her car had broken down. When Chancey arrived to offer assistance, Lee ambushed her, shooting her in the face. He then placed her wounded body in the back of his father's Chevrolet Silverado and drove to a remote area in the neighboring Charlton County. There, in the seclusion of the woods, as he attempted to steal her rings, he discovered she was still alive. In a final, merciless act, he shot her two more times, ending her life.
Following the murder, Lee and his girlfriend fled to Florida in the stolen truck. However, his attempt to evade justice was short-lived. During their time in Florida, Lee made several incriminating statements to friends and his girlfriend's sister, ultimately leading to his capture. During a traffic stop, Lee was apprehended, and he readily confessed to the murder, reportedly telling officers, 'I'll tell you who I am; I'm wanted for murder in Georgia, my name is James Lee.'
James Allyson Lee was subsequently charged with malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. During his trial, the jury found him guilty on all counts. The prosecution presented evidence of the aggravating circumstances of the crime, including that the murder was committed during an armed robbery and kidnapping with bodily injury, and that it was outrageously or wantonly vile and involved aggravated battery to the victim before her death. Based on these findings, the jury recommended a death sentence for the murder of Sharon Varnadore Chancey.
