Woman, Accomplice Charged With Killing Her Ex-Husband's Fiancée

ROSWELL, GA -- The ex-wife of the man whose fiance was found dead outside a Roswell home has been arrested in connection to the woman's murder.

Roswell police have arrested James Jerome Lloyd, 31, of Milton and Petra Elvira Reese, 55, of Grove Town, and have charged the pair with the murder of 53-year-old Karen Lee LaForge.

Reese is the ex-wife of Joe Reese, LaForge's fiancé, the department said. Lloyd is a "known" associate of Petra Reese.

Officers with the Roswell Police Department were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 to a call of a person down at a home in the 500 block of Tyson Circle. Police arrived to find LaForge lying on the ground on the side of the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office previously told Patch that LaForge, a Johns Creek resident, died from ligature strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head. Lloyd was apprehended Feb. 28 while Petra Reese was arrested March 2.

"At this time, we do not believe that there are any other persons involved in the death of Karen LaForge," Roswell Police said. "However, we are continuing to close out any and all tips or leads we have or may continue to receive."

Roswell police also extended its gratitude to LaForge's family and friends, community members, employees and business owners in Roswell and Milton "for their cooperation and assistance during the interviews and information gathering in this case."

Photo: Petra Elvira Reese, left, and James Jerome Lloyd. Credit: Roswell Police Department