Suspect Named in Murder of Smyrna Woman in Decatur

Credit: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

Decatur police have named their prime suspect in the murder of a Smyrna woman last Saturday.

According to information released by the department just before 4:30 on Friday, police have issued an arrest warrant for 34-year-old Aeman Lovel Presley in relation to the Dec. 6 murder of Karen Pearce.

Pearce, 44, was killed in the 100 block of East Ponce de Leon Avenue about 10:55 p.m. on Dec. 6. Witnesses found Pearce laying on the ground as they left a parking area behind One Decatur Town Center.

Although witnesses reported hearing a gunshot in the downtown area about the time Pearce was found, police waited until Tuesday to confirm the cause of her death. Pearce left a local restaurant and was walking adjacent to where her vehicle was parked.

Presley was arrested on Thursday by Atlanta police and is also suspected of killing homeless men Dorian Jenkins and Tommy “Can Man” Mims on Nov. 23 and Nov. 26, respectively.

Fulton County jail information shows that Presley was arrested on Thursday and faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, altering or selling tokens, transfers, or transaction cards, and willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

Atlanta police announced earlier this week that both homeless men had been killed by the same gun, and that the ammunition used in the killings hadn’t been manufactured since 2010.