Men on trial for allegedly tying up and killing DeKalb couple

Vernon Beamon and Christopher Spencer

Vernon Beamon and Christopher Spencer

Last October, Samuel White Jr., a DeKalb County grandfather of three, and his girlfriend were found dead, tied up with their hands and feet behind their backs.

This week, two men are on trial, facing murder charges. Vernon Beamon and Christopher Spencer were arrested in December and have been in jail since.

A roommate found White, 54, and Sylvia Watson, 57, shot in the head at Stone Mountain's The Park at East Ponce Apartments.

Authorities haven’t yet released why the couple was killed, but police have said the motive appeared to be robbery.

White, a surgical tech at Northside Hospital, was from Michigan. He had two daughters and three grandchildren, two boys and a girl.

In a collage accompanying the online obituary is a certificate from the time he was employee of the month at the hospital. Another certificate — one of appreciation from MARTA — sings praises of his bravery from one day in 2010 when he jumped onto a live track and saved the life of a woman who'd fallen in front of a train.

Watson, a native of Los Angeles, appeared smitten with her boyfriend. She posted his photo to her Facebook page, where she also shared messages about the importance of family and the power of prayer.

The trial began Monday.

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