Victim removed from life support
Father, son charged with murder
By Elizabeth Billips lizbillips@yahoo.com

A Sardis father and son will now face murder charges, following the death of a Milledgeville motel employee who was repeatedly hit, kicked and stomped - then left on the side of the road in Putnam County.

Mims Morris Sr., 45, Mims Morris Jr., 17, and an East Dublin couple were all arrested two weeks ago for the March 15 kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault of Earl Eugene Gill, a maintenance man at the Econo Lodge in Milledgeville.

According to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, Gill died around 9 a.m. last Wednesday - not long after family members asked that he be removed from life support.

According to statements given by at least two of the suspects, Gill was given $25 prior to the beating and asked to buy marijuana.

After returning to the motel empty-handed and claiming the money was stolen from him, Gill was forced into a van and driven into Putnam County.

The Morrises, along with Roy Bradshaw of East Dublin, allegedly began beating Gill inside the van, which was driven by Bradshaw's wife, Teresa, then dragged him onto the roadside and attacked him again.

"He was beaten to the point of non-recognition," Sheriff Sills said.

Gill remained conscious long enough to stumble onto the doorstep of a nearby home and beg for help. Within hours he was unresponsive and remained so until his death last week.

All four suspects are now charged with malice murder and felony murder.