A man hired to do odd jobs for a 92-year-old East Point man is now accused of beating and suffocating the elderly man to death.
And police said the motive was robbery.
Mr. Christopher Roberts, 35, of East Point, was charged Tuesday with murder, robbery by force, burglary and theft by taking, according to the East Point police.
“He burglarized his house and in the process murdered him,” police spokesman Lt. Cliff Chandler said.
Mr. Marcus Dewberry’s daughter found his body around 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 after showing up at his Jefferson Avenue home to check on him, Lt. Chandler said.
Investigators believe he had only been dead for a day or two before she found him and called 911.
Investigators said Mr. Dewberry died from blunt force injury to the head and suffocation, but they declined to comment on what objects were used to kill him.
With no leads and no suspect, for days investigators were stunned about who could have committed the crime?
Then after getting some tips through Crime Stoppers, investigators were able to link Mr. Roberts to the crime, Lt. Chandler said. The day of the murder, a large screen TV, some cash and costume jewelry were taken from Mr. Dewberry’s home, he said.
Mr. Roberts had allegedly sold the TV and jewelry to some individuals, he said.
On Monday investigators tracked Mr. Roberts down to a Hapeville hotel, and interviewed him late Monday and on Tuesday before he was charged, Lt. Chandler said.
It's unclear how long the two have know each other, but Mr. Roberts was hired as a handyman for Mr. Dewberry, who lived alone, Lt. Chandler said.
"He did odd jobs for him around the house," Lt. Chandler said.
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