A Christmas Eve investigation into the tragic murder of 50-year-old Sherrie Leigh Little concluded with the fatal shooting of the suspected perpetrator by authorities, according to a statement from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office were dispatched to Johnson Cemetery Road in the Chattoogaville area, where the body of Sherrie Leigh Little was discovered just off the roadway. Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) special agents joined the effort to identify the victim and quickly confirmed her as Sherrie Leigh Little from Summerville.
Subsequent investigations, including collaboration with the Summerville Police Department, led authorities to Little’s residence, where they determined the crime had taken place. Her body was later found dumped near Johnson Cemetery Road.
By the end of the day, law enforcement had a suspect in mind and secured an arrest warrant for 44-year-old John Wayne Siffles. Authorities believed Siffles was hiding at a residence on Highland Avenue, a few blocks away from the crime scene.
A coordinated effort by various law enforcement agencies culminated in Siffles being taken into custody. Despite attempts to subdue him with pepper spray and Tasers, Siffles resisted arrest, brandishing a knife with the intent to assault the officers. In response, authorities shot him; however, the specific law enforcement agency or officer involved was not disclosed.
John Wayne Siffles was transported to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In adherence to protocol, the GBI is now overseeing the shooting investigation to determine the appropriateness of the use of force by Georgia law enforcement officers.
