Crime & Safety

Suspect in Panama City Beach Gang Rape Arrested in Decatur

Two other suspects were arrested in Florida on April 11, sheriff's deputies said.

Photo Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Decatur man suspected in taking part in a recorded, brutal gang rape of a woman in Panama City Beach during Spring Break.

Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estatesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

According to spokeswoman Cynthia Williams, George Kennedy, 21, was arrested on Tuesday on LaVista Colony Court by members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Field Services Uniform Division. Kennedy had been named in an arrest warrant posted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, the agency investigating the March gang rape.

Kennedy has been charged with sexual battery by multiple perpetrators and remains incarcerated at the DeKalb County jail. He will likely soon face extradition to Bay County to join Delonte’ Martistee, 22, and Ryan Austin Calhoun, 23, two Troy University Students and alleged accomplices, reports NBC News. The two suspects were arrested on April 11, Williams said.

Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estatesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen said in a press conference that video of the assault was “probably one of the most disgusting, repulsive, sickening things” he had ever witnessed in his law enforcement career, NBC said.

A Bay County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman told CNN that there was a high possibility that the victim was drugged prior to the assault behind the Spinnaker Beach Club sometime between March 10 and March 12.


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