BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A former Glynn County police lieutenant, his ex-wife and her male friend are dead after double shooting Thursday night in McIntosh County, followed by a slow-speed chase to a SWAT standoff in front of the ex-officer's Brunswick home.
Friday afternoon, McIntosh County sheriff said Robert “Corey” Sasser was a suspect in the deaths of his ex-wife, Katie Lovett Sasser, 34, and her friend, Johnny Hall, 39.
Sheriff Steve Jessup said Hall was found dead of a gunshot wound about 9:49 p.m. outside the Tolomato Island home, near Darien. Kettles-Sasser was shot and killed inside the home, which appeared to have the door forced open.
Jesup said Hall apparently fired shots at his attacker and his gun was found near his body.
Authorities said officers from several agencies caught up with Sasser's pickup truck at Highway 251 at U.S. 17. He didn't stop, but led police and sheriff's deputies to his home in the Hunter's Point neighborhood, where his pickup was surrounded by Glynn County's SWAT team.
Glynn County police said Sasser was found dead hours after officers fired tear gas trying to get him out of his vehicle parked. Jesup said he died of a single gunshot to to the chest, but it would be up to the autopsy to determine if he was hit by Hall before leaving McIntosh County or if Sasser killed himself.
UNCUT: McIntosh sheriff names victims, suspect |
Glynn police, McIntosh sheriff, GBI briefing on 3 deaths
A Georgia Department of Natural Resources officer stopped Sasser's vehicle that was seen leaving the neighborhood where shots were fired, but was given a false story and let him go.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation of both crime scenes and all three deaths. Authorities wouldn't say if Corey Sasser killed his ex-wife and Hall, but described him as a suspect.
"We're in the early stages of this investigation, and right now, we're not going to release any information about where the guns came from or anything of that nature," said Stacy Carson, GBI special agent in charge of the Kingsland office.
People in Darien described Hall as a local businessman who grew up in the area. They said he is very well-known and will be greatly missed.
Friends of Kettles-Sasser and Hall said they both had children. They said the two were in a relationship and Corey Sasser had previously threatened to kill them.
They were both good, fun-loving people, and I’m not just saying this for the record or anything," Billy Reddick said. "They’re human beings. They made their own mistakes, but we all do."
Sasser, 41, was released on bond last month after investigators say he went to his estranged wife's home, tried to kick down her door and threatened to kill her. He was released on bond after that incident, but was arrested a second time last month after a police standoff in the woods of western Glynn County. He was charged with possession of a gun, which was against the terms of his release.
Authorities said one of the terms of Sasser's bond was that he was to stay out of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, but he was allowed to return Tuesday for a court hearing. News4Jax was told he was recently living with his sister in Alabama and being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
 Cory Sasser's recent historyMay 13 arrest for domestic battery . He was allowed to have contact with his wife and was allowed to have guns. May 17 second arrest after standoff . Sasser was Baker Acted, ordered to have no contact with his wife and to give up his guns and not possess any other firearms. He was ordered to live with his sister in Alabama, seek treatment for PTSD and check with his bond agency every 30 days. He could travel to Glynn County, but only for court appearances and must leave the county within two hours. | Full story |
Scott Ryfun, of WGIG radio, shared photos with News4Jax that showed Glynn County officers along with a search and recovery vehicle outside Sasser's home
Neighbors described what they heard during the SWAT standoff.
"I noticed the shots didn't sound like regular gun to me. Being a hunter that I am, they more sounded like tear gas," Harley Rich said. "Lots of commotion. Lot of things going on out here."
Authorities said one of the terms of Sasser's bond was that he was to stay out of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, but he was allowed to return Tuesday for a court hearing. News4Jax was told he was recently living his sister in Alabama and being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Scott Ryfun, of WGIG radio, shared photos with News4Jax that showed Glynn County officers along with a search and recovery vehicle outside Sasser's home
Neighbors said what they heard during the SWAT standoff.
"I noticed the shots didn't sound like regular gun to me. Being a hunter that I am, they more sounded like tear gas," Harley Rich said. "Lots of commotion. Lot of things going on out here."
Standoff in May
This was the second SWAT standoff with Sasser in just over a month.
In May, Sasser and Georgia SWAT had a standoff that ended in a wooded area off of Highway 99. He was captured and taken to a hospital. Once he recovered, he was ordered to stay out of Brunswick Judicial District.
News4Jax learned Glynn County police fired Sasser on May 24.
Sasser was going through a bitter divorce and there was a report that he and his estranged wife were recently seen together.
"This whole thing circles around a domestic issue," Glynn County Police Chief John Powell said at Friday morning's briefing. "We had a thorough investigation done and we were working with our partners with the judicial system to try to come up with a resolution for that, so the investigation is ongoing, was ongoing at the time and is still ongoing."
