2 men missing for months found dead inside storage unit in Gwinnett County

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The bodies of two men who were reported missing from Athens several months ago were found over the weekend inside a storage facility in Gwinnett County.

According to police, Joshua Jackson and Derrick Ruff were found dead Sunday inside a storage unit at the Extra Space Storage on Lawrenceville Highway.

The Gwinnett County Police Department -- along with the FBI and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department -- is working the case as a homicide.

Jackson and Ruff were last seen Dec. 18 driving a Ford Expedition. The Expedition was later found abandoned Dec. 21 in a neighborhood off Monfort Road.

Athens-Clarke County spokesman Geof Gilland said investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly on the case over the last few months.

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Channel 2 Action News has learned two people have been charged in connection with the case.

Lesley Green, 30, is charged with concealing the death of another. He's being held at the Gwinnett County Jail.

Robert Carlisle, 32, is charged with concealing the death of another. He's not in custody and there are two active warrants for his arrest.

On Wednesday, Gwinnett County police announced a third suspect in the case. Police said Justin Jamal Davis, 29, of Snellville, has two active warrants for conspiracy to commit a crime.  
 
Davis's whereabouts are currently unknown.  His specific involvement in the crime is not being released at this time, police said.

Channel 2 Gwinnett Bureau Chief Tony Thomas dug through documents that detailed how police were able to identify the men.

Authorities believe the murders are gang-related and may be tied to other crimes in the area. From the arrest warrants, Thomas learned the FBI wiretapped phones. Agents say both men had talked about the investigation.

Carlisle is quoted as speaking about getting rid of the bodies, referring to them as "spoiled milk" and "needed to contact the janitor to clean it up."

Police said there could be more people charged in the case. Investigators said the motive appears to be gang-related.

“Our hopes were to find the two men alive,” Gilland said in a statement. “Unfortunately, on Sunday, March 17, the bodies of Joshua Jackson and Derrick Ruff were located in Gwinnett County. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the two men.”

Investigators say it appears the men died of gunshot wounds.

Thomas also spoke with Jackson's father Tuesday, who said he is relieved the search is over.

"Since they found him, it's made things a little better. Didn't want them to be found the way they were, but at least we do know we can have some closure," Gerald Jackson told Thomas.

Cox Media Group