2nd Guilty Plea In Smyrna Man's Murder

MARIETTA, GA — A second persom has pleaded guilty in the 2016 murder of a Smyrna man who went missing on his birthday.

Howard L. Sewell, 35, was shot to death on May 30, 2016 in a Marietta apartment, where investigators learned he had been lured to be robbed. His decomposing remains were found in Paulding County on June 3, and his identity was confirmed through dental records and DNA testing.

On Tuesday afternoon, as jury selection was underway for trial in the case, defendant Omar Rasheed Savior, 23, of Smyrna, pleaded guilty to malice murder and felony murder in Sewell’s death. Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris sentenced Savior to life in prison.

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Last April, Thadeshia Bettyann Clark, 22, of Stockbridge, pleaded guilty to the same charges in the case and also was sentenced to serve life in prison.

"This was a particularly senseless and callous crime perpetrated out of greed," said Jesse Evans, Chief Assistant District Attorney. "Thanks to the hard work and partnership we had with law enforcement, we were all very pleased to be able to hold Sewell’s killers accountable and his grieving family was extremely grateful."
Savior has been in in custody since June 2016. Marietta Police, the GBI, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.

Charges remain pending against three others who prosecutors say participated in concealing Sewell’s death.

Howard Sewell photo courtesy Cobb County District Attorney's office