Authorities have made a breakthrough in a long-standing murder case. A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the 2016 killing of Donald Fickey, Jr. in Walker County. This arrest comes after Fickey’s death was initially labeled the cause of death as “undetermined.”
Medical examiners and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had initially ruled Fickey’s death as a homicide, but three years ago, the GBI reversed their findings. However, new evidence has now come to light, confirming that Fickey was indeed the victim of a murder.
Authorities took 50-year-old Marshall Ralph Payne into custody on Tuesday night in Murray County, where he resides. Payne is now facing charges related to the murder of Fickey. Fickey’s grieving family had tirelessly fought for justice over the past few years, even resorting to hiring a private investigator to aid in their pursuit of the truth.
In April, a Walker County Grand Jury indicted Payne, paving the way for his arrest. The details surrounding the motive for Fickey’s murder are still under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to uncover any additional information related to the case.
