In the quiet community of Pembroke, Georgia, a tragic event unfolded on Sunday, March 8, 2026, claiming the lives of a beloved local couple. Rhonda Lanier, 64, and her husband, Kenneth "Craig" Lanier, 68, were found shot to death in their home, leaving their family and friends in deep mourning. The couple, who would have celebrated 49 years of marriage in October, were described as best friends and the epitome of a loving marriage.
Rhonda was a dedicated full-time "Nanny" to her grandsons, her life revolving around their care, from cooking their favorite meals to cheering them on at their baseball and football games across the country.
The chain of events leading to the double homicide began in the neighboring Bulloch County community of Nevils. A man, later identified as Anthony Andrea Forney, allegedly stole a truck from a good Samaritan who had stopped to help him after he reportedly ran out of gas. The owner of the stolen truck was able to track his vehicle using a GPS system, providing law enforcement with its location in real-time.
The GPS signal led deputies to the Lanier's residence in Bryan County. As officers arrived, they witnessed a gray Toyota Camry speeding away from the driveway. Inside the home, they made the grim discovery of Rhonda and Craig Lanier, both deceased from gunshot wounds. The stolen pickup truck was found parked on their property.
A pursuit of the Camry ensued, which ended when the driver, identified as Forney, swerved into a ditch and the vehicle overturned. Investigators believe that Forney shot himself just before the crash. Authorities are investigating the incident as a double homicide followed by the suspect's suicide. The motive for the killings and the connection between Forney and the Lanier family remain under investigation. As the sole suspect is deceased, no arrests have been made in the case. The Bryan County Sheriff's Office has expressed its condolences to the Lanier family as the community grapples with this senseless tragedy.
