Man charged with concealing death in Justin Gaines case

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has learned a man has been charged with concealing a death in the Justin Gaines case.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas was the first person to tell the victim's mother of the charges and the first thing she asked Thomas was for the name of the man charged with concealing her son's death.
 
Authorities had tried to keep this all quiet but an arrest warrant and Thomas' questions brought out many new details in the case.
 
"Investigators received information from three sources that (Martin) Wilkie was involved in the disappearance," said Chief Deputy Keith Brooks with the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
 
Walton County authorities charged Wilkie with concealing a death.
 
And despite one of the informants later admitting she was lying, investigators still believe Wilkie had something to do with the disappearance of Gaines.
 
"That's what we are actively pursuing," Brooks said.
 
Gaines disappeared after leaving Wild Bill's nightclub in Duluth in 2007.
 
Repeated searches of Wells in Gwinnett and Walton counties have come up empty, but earlier this month, Thelma Ballew and her son, both inmates, described their involvement in the disappearance.
 
An investigator wrote Ballew said, "She participated and assisted the accused in transporting the victim's (Justin Gaines) body to High Shoals, Walton County, Georgia in a black metal toolbox."
 
Ballew later recanted.
 
"We exhausted the leads that we had. It was a setback as far as extended the time and manpower out there," Brooks said.
 
The warrant also says Ballew's son, Dustin Glass, claimed he and Wilkie assaulted Gaines, which lead to Gaines being shot to death. 
 
Wilkie is free on bond.
 
His lawyer told Thomas by phone they are considering a federal civil rights lawsuit but first are focusing on getting the charges dropped. 
 
Investigators still believe they are on the right track.
 
"Hopefully with the coverage that this is receiving, we will receive more tips that will lead to more information," Brooks said.
 
A magistrate court judge in Walton County to this point has allowed the concealing a death charge to stand.
 
Although authorities admit given that one key witness has admitted lying, those charges may ultimately be dismissed.

WSBTV