New Details Revealed in Roswell Publix Murders

ROSWELL, GA — A Fulton County Magistrate had ruled adequate probable cause exists to file nearly a dozen charges against the man accused of killing two teenagers behind a Roswell Publix grocery store.

Judge Karen Woodson ruled Friday that Jeffrey Andrew Hazelwood can be tried for two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated sexual battery, one count of identity fraud, one count of felony theft by taking and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Hazelwood, who resides in Roswell, is charged with killing Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson, both 17.

The judge also noted the case will be bound over and will be presented before the grand jury on Sept. 9.

Friday's probable cause hearing also shed new light into the moments leading up to and during the murders of the two teens.

Roswell police detective Jennifer Bennett provided the details to the courtroom for nearly three hours Friday. According to police, Hazelwood stalked the two victims and scaled the Publix grocery store roof before arriving at the scene in an SUV.

Both teens were in Henderson's vehicle when Hazelwood approached the car from behind, the officer said. He added that Hazelwood parked his vehicle out of view, so the teens didn't know he was watching them.

Hazelwood also told police he "pistol-whipped" Davis, but an autopsy conducted on the 17-year-old Woodstock resident yielded no such evidence, the detective said. The defendant also told police he struck Henderson on her backside before fatally shooting the teenager in the head, the officer told the court.

Bennett said there does not appear to be a direct link between the defendant and the victims; however, she did note Hazelwood appears to be an acquaintance of a male student at River Ridge High School, which was where Carter was set to start his senior year. Henderson would have been a senior at Roswell High School.

Friday's testimony also aired new details on Hazelwood's living arrangements. The defendant was living with his grandparents, the officer said, but was told they wanted him to move out by Aug. 1 — the same day the teens were killed.

According to Bennett, the grandparents said they were "afraid" of their grandson, as he expressed both "homicidal and suicidal" behavior.

A delivery truck driver discovered the bodies of both teenagers around 6 a.m. Aug. 1 behind the store at 885 Woodstock Road. Both bodies appear to have been posed and were each lying beside their vehicle. The detective noted Davis was located next to the passenger side of his vehicle while Henderson was discovered on the driver's side of the SUV.

The pair also had injuries to their feet, which the detective said could be attributed to some sort of movement or scraping across the asphalt.

After the shootings, Hazelwood allegedly returned to the scene of the crime — wearing a "V For Vendetta" face mask — and took Henderson's purse and debit card and the jumper cables belonging to Davis' car. Police were able to trace Hazelwood's steps, as he allegedly used the debit card at the gas station in Woodstock. He was also seen pumping gas at the convenience store wearing the mask.

Police executed search warrants at the home of Hazelwood's grandparents where they located numerous drawings and writings where the defendant allegedly referenced wanting to become an "assassin," the officer said. Detectives also executed search warrants at the home of Hazelwood's girlfriend where they recovered additional writing and electronic devices.

A search of Hazelwood's SUV turned up a 9 mm handgun the suspect's grandfather reported stolen. That gun, Bennett said, is being processed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine if it was the weapon used during the double murders.

Detectives interviewed Hazelwood twice. The first time, according to Bennett, Hazelwood became upset when asked about his family life and, at one point, answered questions with a British accent and in a "whiny" voice. During the second interview, one Bennett said the defendant requested, Hazelwood allegedly told police he was forced to drive to the location by a man named "Matt," but police have not been able to track down the alleged person.

Hazelwood's defense attorneys questioned Bennett on police procedure and whether the defendant was tested for gun powder residue. Bennett said Hazelwood was not checked for residue, as the time between the shooting and his arrest would have allowed him to wash off any evidence.

The attorneys also asked if the police agency was aware that the accused shooter had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, a sensory disorder and Asperger syndrome. They also asked if they were aware that Hazelwood spent time in a mental hospital.

Bennett said they were only told that Hazelwood spent time in a "hospital" and that his grandparents were "scared" of him.

She was also asked to reveal what detectives learned about Hazelwood during their interviews of coworkers at Michael's and Walmart where he held down two jobs.

Bennett said employees described him as "normal" and said he was always helpful and nice to customers.

Image via Roswell Police Department