Murder suspect who said he was kidnapped dies during search for escaped Bibb inmates

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — A murder suspect who disappeared after his attorneys claimed he was kidnapped is dead after he shot himself during a search for four escaped Georgia inmates.

Deputies say officials found Christian Demond Williams during a search connected to the recent escape of four inmates in Bibb County.

Williams had been scheduled to go before a judge back in March for his charges in a 2021 murder case. However, Williams’ attorneys alerted prosecutors to a video that showed their client allegedly being kidnapped.

The Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office shared the video with Channel 2′s ABC affiliate WGXA-TV News. The video shows two people dressed in all black hit Williams and drag him out of the front yard at his home. The camera view does not show how they left with Williams.

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On Monday, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said Williams was found at an apartment complex in Macon months after his disappearance.

Deputies said US Marshals were following up on a lead regarding four inmates who escaped from jail. The Marshals went to knock on an apartment door at a complex when they were met by gunfire.

When officials entered the home, they found a man, later identified as Williams, had shot himself. The sheriff’s office confirmed to WGXA-TV that Williams died Tuesday morning around 11:25 a.m.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said Williams’ “involvement in the incident of the four escaped inmates is currently under investigation,” but said they could not go into further detail due to it being an open investigation.

Another person inside the apartment was taken in for questioning.

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Meanwhile, Bibb County deputies are continuing their search along with US Marshals and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the inmates. Officials recovered the blue Dodge Challenger used as a getaway car at a grocery store parking lot on Saturday.

According to the sheriff’s office, the inmates include one man accused of murder, and three others in jail for a variety of other charges. The escaped inmates include:

• 52-year-old Joey Fournier, who was being held in jail for murder. Fourner is a white man with blue eyes and gray hair. He stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
• 24-year-old Marc Kerry Anderson, who was being held in jail for aggravated assault. Anderson is a black man with dreads. He stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
• 37-year-old Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, who was being held for the United States Marshals. Barnwell is a black man with braids. He stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
• 29-year-old Chavis Demaryo Stokes, who was being detained for possession of a firearm and drug trafficking. Stokes is a black man with black hair. He stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall.

There is a combined $73,000 reward for any information that leads to their capture.

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Shots fired at U.S. Marshals while they investigate 4 escaped Bibb Co. inmates

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