Arrests made in 1983 cold case murder investigation

SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. - Five people have been arrested in a 1983 cold case in Spalding County, and investigators say the murder was racially motivated.

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Frankie Gebhardt, 59, and Bill Moore Sr., 58, have been charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and concealing the death of another in the death investigation of Timothy Coggins, according to the Spalding County Sheriff's Office and the GBI.

In addition, Sandra Bunn, 58, and Lamar Bunn were charged with obstruction, and Gregory Huffman, 47, was arrested for violation of oath of office and obstruction.

Authorities say more arrests and charged will be coming forward soon.

Thirty-four years ago, authorities said Timothy Coggins' body was found on a power line off of Minter Road in Spalding County. At the time, investigators were unable to make any arrests and the case has remained unsolved.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reopened the cold case murder investigation earlier this year.

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This year investigators began re-interviewing old witnesses as well as newly discovered witnesses. They have also been gathering new evidence after new tips came in during March.

"The GBI, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, and District Attorney Ben Coker’s Office will do all we can to ensure that Timothy Coggins and the remainder of the Coggins family receive justice," Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said. "It does not matter who he was, or where he was from, this man died a horrible death and those responsible for his murder need to be held accountable."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Spalding County Sheriff's Office at 770-467-4282.