Bonds denied, set in 1983 cold case death

Five people have been charged in connection with a 1983 death in Spalding County.

Five people have been charged in connection with a 1983 death in Spalding County.

Two people were denied bond Saturday and another person had bonds set in connection with charges from a 1983 cold case death, a Spalding County official said.

Frankie Gebhardt and Bill Moore Sr. were denied bond, and

Gregory Huffman had cash bonds set for $25,000 for a violation of oath of office charge and $10,000 set for an obstruction charge, said Dwayne Jones, spokesman for the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

Also, Sandra and Lamar Bunn were released Friday after posting bonds of $706.75, Jones said in a news release.

The charges concern the death of Timothy Coggins, 23, whose body was found in a grassy area of a power line easement in the area of Minter and Mobley roads, according to the release.

“The involvement of Huffman, Sandra Bunn and Lamar Bunn is related to the investigation reopened this year, and not the original investigation of Mr. Coggins death,” Jones said.

Gebhardt, 59, and Moore Sr., 58, were charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and concealing a body, officials said. Lamar Bunn, a Milner Police Department employee, and Sandra Bunn, 58, were charged with obstruction. Huffman is a former detention officer with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darrell Dix said Friday there is “no doubt” in the minds of investigators that the crime was racially motivated, and if it occurred today it would be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.

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