David Williams
Donna Warren
Jerry Warren
Three suspects have been taken into custody in Rome, Ga., in the case of the stabbing and robbery of Mayra Espitia that occurred on Tuesday in Whitfield County.
During the investigation, officers were able to develop and verify some evidence that identified the suspect who did the actual stabbing as David Wayne Williams, 47. Williams' last known address is in Walton County, Ga. Investigators were able to determine that Williams was in the Rome area approximately one hour after Ms. Espitia had been stabbed.
Evidence was presented to a magistrate judge late Tuesday afternoon and a warrant was issued for Williams on the charge of aggravated battery and armed robbery. Investigators from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office contacted the U.S. Marshals Service and Rome authorities, and requested assistance in locating Williams.
Agents from the Marshal Service on Wednesday were searching the residence of Donna Warren (a known associate of Williams) on Baker Drive in Rome when they observed a vehicle fitting the description of a vehicle known to be driven by Warren pull into a driveway close by, and they saw a man jump out and start running. The officers gave chase but were unable to locate the man. The female in the car was identified as Ms. Warren.
The car the two suspects were in was believed to be the car that brought Williams to the Espitia residence. Detectives and evidence technicians from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Rome and obtained a search warrant on the Baker Drive residence and executed it on Wednesday.
During the search, evidence was located indicating Ms. Warren was the woman who transported Williams to the residence on Serena Way. Ms. Warren was arrested and charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony (armed robbery and aggravated battery).
Later in the evening, Williams was located in the area where he had fled from authorities earlier in the day, and he was taken into custody.
During the investigation detectives uncovered evidence that the brother of Ms. Williams, Jerry Wade Warren, also played a part in the incident. Warren, 48, of 11 Baker Drive, was taken into custody and also charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
All three suspects have been transported back to Dalton and are being held in the Whitfield County Jail without bond. The stolen GMC Sonoma pick-up has not been located at this time. However, during the investigation today Rome authorities found another vehicle Williams had sold to a Rome resident that had been reported stolen out of Walton County, Ga. Some documents from the stolen Sonoma were also recovered from Williams.