Brothers charged with murder in motor vehicle death

Rabun County, Ga. – On Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol and the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jesse Reeves Smith, 22, of 238 Gipson Lane, Lakemont, Georgia, and his brother, James Cody Smith, 22, of 259 Gipson Lane, Lakemont, Georgia, for murder.  This case stemmed from a motor vehicle wreck which resulted in the death of Marshall Wayne Turpin, 18.  Jesse Reeves Smith was arrested at the Rabun County Jail where he was incarcerated on unrelated charges.  Jesse Reeves Smith was charged with one count of felony murder, four counts of aggravated assault and one count of making false statements.  James Cody Smith was taken into custody by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and charged with one count of felony murder and four counts of aggravated assault.  The brothers are currently incarcerated at the Rabun County jail awaiting court proceedings.

The charges stem from an incident occurring July 14, 2017, on East Wolf Creek Road in Rabun County during which a vehicle occupied by the Smith brothers intentionally struck a vehicle occupied by Turpin which resulted in the fatal crash.

The arrests come as a result of a six-month investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.  The investigation remains active and ongoing.  All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.