DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia man faces life in prison without parole after his conviction on malice murder and other charges in the 2019 shooting and stabbing of a 21-year-old woman.
Hannah Bender disappeared from Lumpkin County on Sept. 14, 2019. A week later, Bender’s body was found Sept. 25, 2019 in a shallow grave in Forsyth County.
A jury found Austin Stryker guilty on all counts after six hours of deliberation. He faces life in prison without parole.
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“Throughout the trial and preparation of this case, the focus of our office has always been, and will continue to be, getting justice for Hannah Bender. The jury accomplished that today in their most appreciated verdict. We look forward now to sentencing in which our focus will be complete accountability for Austin Stryker,” District Attorney Lee Darragh said. “My appreciation is further extended to Assistant District Attorneys Conley Greer and Shiv Sachdeva, all in my office whose assistance to them was invaluable, and to Kristen Perry of the GBI for her excellent investigation.”
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Prosecutors said Austin Stryker was among members of a small criminal gang in Georgia and that Bender was killed to keep her from informing authorities about a robbery.
Bender was shot in the head without warning by Stryker, according to testimony given in a plea hearing in April. She was also stabbed 32 times, according to an autopsy.
Five other people were eventually charged in Bender’s death.
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Issac Huff faced charges in connection with Bender’s death and the disposal of the body. As part of a plea deal, Huff will spend 12 years in prison and 18 years on probation.
Another man, Dylan Reid, pleaded guilty in April to aggravated assault, aggravated battery and other charges. He will spend 20 years in jail and 15 on probation.
The trial for Stryker’s wife, Elizabeth Donaldson, has not been scheduled. She is charged with concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.
Bailey Williams, 21, had also been charged with felony tampering with evidence. Jerry Harper, 78, was indicted on one count each of violating Georgia’s street gang law and hindering the apprehension of a criminal, previous records show.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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