Family Members Arrested after Aiding Man in Murder of Girlfriend in Georgia and Burning Body in Tennessee
Authorities have reported the arrest of a man from Georgia who is accused of committing a heinous crime. It is alleged that he murdered the mother of his child and then proceeded to burn her remains. This tragic incident occurred after the victim discovered that the man had secretly married another woman.
During their investigation into the disappearance and death of Briana Winston, 23, of College Park, Ga., Clayton County Police discovered unexpected and intricate details, according to Lt. Ashanti Marbury at a press conference on Monday.
According to police, Winston was reported missing at the beginning of April after her family became increasingly concerned when they were unable to contact her since mid-March.
According to a statement from Clayton County Police on April 26, her family grew more worried when they learned that her apartment had been completely emptied by her child’s father and live-in boyfriend, Michale Edwards.
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Police have announced the arrest of Edwards in connection with the death of Winston. The investigation has led them to Tennessee.
In early May, detectives had a meeting with an unidentified individual in Gates, Tenn. This person agreed to cooperate with them in exchange for immunity, as they were believed to have assisted Edwards in getting rid of Winston’s body, according to Marbury.
According to Marbury, detectives discovered that on the morning of March 17, Edwards visited the apartment. It was there that “she confronted him after discovering his unfaithfulness,” Marbury claimed on Monday. According to Marbury, they had a disagreement and the police claim that he choked her.
According to authorities, Edwards allegedly placed Winston’s body into a suitcase and then drove to an undisclosed location in Gates. There, they reportedly placed her body into a burn barrel, doused it with accelerant, and set it on fire.
According to Marbury, the object was burned for an extended period of time until only skeletal remains remained. According to her, a shovel was used to break down Briana’s bones in an effort to accelerate the burning process.
Marbury claimed that Edwards got rid of some of the remains near Interstate 40 in Tennessee. According to her, the other man allegedly disposed of her remains in a cemetery behind a church.
Investigators interviewed Edwards on April 4 after his arrest on a warrant for aggravated stalking. The arrest was made due to an alleged violation of a protective order related to a domestic violence incident in October 2023 involving Winston, according to Marbury. Edwards faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, malice murder, felony murder, and tampering with evidence.
According to Marbury, the situation quickly became a personal matter as Edwards reportedly involved everyone in this illegal activity.
Investigators interviewed Brienna Phillips-Edwards, Edward’s wife, on April 5. She was arrested on a warrant for allegedly providing false statements to the police, according to Marbury.
According to Marbury, she has also been accused of assisting Edwards in transporting Winston’s remains to Tennessee using a vehicle.
In addition to the arrest of Edwards’ mother, Ebony Anderson, and his brother, Keilan Wright, they have been charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. It is alleged that they disposed of a pair of shoes and a pair of gloves that Edwards had requested them to burn during a recorded jailhouse call, according to Marbury.
