On Thursday, May 28, Jerry Kennedy (age 32), of 30 Parsonage Street, apartment 2, McRae, was arrested in connection with the rape of a woman running the trails at Little Ocmulgee State Park. Kennedy is being held at the Wheeler County jail facing multiple felony charges. Around 2:55 p.m., a woman called the Wheeler-Telfair E911 reporting she had been raped while running the trails at the park. The woman was in the Wheeler County area on business and stopped to run the trails before heading home. The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Subsequent to a crime scene examination and interviews conducted with witnesses in the area, Kennedy was arrested at his residence.
Wheeler County Sheriff Maurice Johnson says the apprehension of Kennedy in such a timely manner would not have been possible without the cooperation of witnesses and the assistance of the GBI, McRae-Helena Police Department, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Charges have been brought against Kennedy. The GBI has obtained arrest warrants against Kennedy, charging him with criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal attempt to commit sodomy, rape, false imprisonment, kidnapping and aggravated assault.
If anyone has information that may assist in this investigation, please contact the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office, 912-568-7107 or the Eastman GBI office, 478-374-6988.