3 men, 18, charged with murder of Peachtree City teen
Police investigating how 3 men accused of murder entered Peachtree City teen's apartment
Right now, three 18-year-old males are in custody and have been charged with murdering a 15-year-old girl in Peachtree City. As new details are revealed in the case, police continue to investigate how the suspects gained access to the apartment.
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Three young adults have been arrested in connection to the death of a 15-year-old girl at a Peachtree City apartment complex.
Madison Gesswein, 15, was found dead by her mother around 6 a.m. Tuesday inside their apartment at The Greens at Braelinn, according to Peachtree City police. A final cause of death is pending determination by the medical examiner, but authorities say an injury to Madison's head appears consistent with a gunshot wound.
"She was so young," said Jada Zimbabwe, one of the victim’s friends. "She didn't do anyone anything to anyone."
A smiling face is how friends and family of 15-year-old Gesswein remember her.
"She was just really sweet," Zimbabwe said. "Everyone I know liked her. She's outgoing too."
Gesswein’s mom found her and immediately called 911.
"She is bleeding from the head," her mom said on the phone.
Police say detectives quickly arrested three 18-year-old suspects, all acquaintances of the victim.
They are identified as Justus Smith, Jacobean Brown and Yeshua Mathis all from Fayetteville. Each faces a murder charge.
"This was not a random act," said Peachtree City Police Assistant Chief Matt Myers. "They knew whose apartment they were at, and it was in some way related to matters between these individuals."
At this point, investigators have not identified a specific motive or how the three suspects got into the apartment.
During the 911 call, her mom said her daughter's bedroom door was locked when she woke up.
"I came through the bedroom door, her bedroom window is open, and the blinds are a mess," her mom said.
That window is now part of the investigation.
"That window was taken by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Scene Unit in its entirety for processing of evidence," Myers said. "That's why there was a bag covering a window."
For Gesswein’s friend, this loss hurts.
"It's just so scary knowing someone so close was murdered, so brutally," Zimbabwe said.
Three men arrested, charged in murder of 15-year-old Peachtree City girl
Peachtree City police have named the three suspects as 18-year-old Justus Smith, 18-year-old Jacobean Brown and 18-year-old Yeshua Mathis. All three are from Fayetteville. Investigators believe 15-year-old Madison Gesswein died from a gunshot wound.
All three suspects are now in custody at the Fayette County jail. Authorities say additional charges may be issued as the investigation continues.
Police say this is the first murder in Peachtree City in about nine months.