In the quiet community of Peachtree City, Georgia, the life of 15-year-old Madison 'Maddy' Elizabeth Gesswein was tragically cut short on February 21, 2023. A ninth-grade student at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Madison was discovered by her mother in her bedroom at their apartment in The Greens at Braelinn complex. Her mother, returning home from an overnight shift, found Madison unresponsive in her bed with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.
The initial 911 call
captured the harrowing moments as Madison's mother, finding the bedroom window open and the blinds in disarray, attempted to render aid while waiting for emergency services. The subsequent investigation by the Peachtree City Police Department swiftly led to the arrest of three 18-year-old acquaintances of Madison: Jacobean Brown, Justus Smith, and Yeshua Mathis. All three were charged with murder in connection with her death.
Prosecutors detailed a narrative where the three young men went to Madison's apartment following a text message argument the previous day. It was alleged that Jacobean Brown entered her room through the window while she was on her bed and shot her. At the scene, investigators discovered a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine and cleaning supplies.
In August 2024, a Fayette County jury found Jacobean Brown guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional six years. The other two suspects, Justus Smith and Yeshua Mathis, were also scheduled to face trial. Court records indicated a September trial date for Smith and Mathis. It was later reported that Yeshua Mathis was acquitted of all charges on October 31, 2024.
