By GABE JORDAN
gabe.jordan@gaflnews.com
ASHBURN — The manhunt continues for a suspect wanted in the late-September murder of a Turner County man, although authorities indicate reports of sightings have waned over the last two weeks.
“There’s a good possibility someone is helping keep his location concealed,” said Chief Investigator Steve Mauldin with the Turner County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office assisted Turner County Sheriff’s Office investigators in early October, when several sightings of 34-year-old Nathan Emmanuel Holley of Ashburn were reported around the Tremont community in northern Crisp County. Authorities began keying in on that area around September 28, Mauldin said.
The Crisp County manhunt resulted in the discovery of Holley’s red 2000 GMC Sierra four-by-four truck at approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. Mauldin said the truck was immediately transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation office in Perry after it was taken into custody.
Since then, reports of sightings of Holley have diminished.
“We don’t know exactly where he is now, but we feel pretty confident he was in Crisp County for about a week in late September and early October,” Mauldin said.
But that has not stopped the rumor mill from working overtime in Crisp County.
The Dispatch learned Friday that many local residents are buzzing with unconfirmed reports that Holley was arrested this past Wednesday night in Arabi. Authorities at both the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and the Turner County Sheriff’s Office say there have been no arrests.
“As far we know we haven’t had any sightings of Holley in Arabi, much less an arrest,” said Mauldin.
Holley is a suspect in the murder of 58-year-old Tommy Wayne Giles, whose body was found last week in a wooded area near Sycamore.
As he first did when sightings of Holley were reported in the area, Crisp County Sheriff Donnie Haralson again Saturday urged residents to resist the urge to panic and said law enforcement authorities are doing everything they can to track down Holley.
“People need to use common sense and stay safe, and if they see anything they think is suspicious they should call 911 and a deputy will come check it out for them,” Haralson said, adding that non-emergency calls about Holley should be directed to Capt. Denise Youngblood, who is spearheading the CCSO’s involvement in the search.
Holley is described as a white male who stands 5’11” and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has short brown hair and may have a goatee or other facial hair; he also has a tattoo of a sword and a rose on his upper right arm.
