A Cornelia woman is in jail charged with vehicular homicide in connection with the death of a Cornelia man.
The Georgia State Patrol says 64-year old Ruby Marie Marshall is charged in the death of 47-year old Jerald Freeman. Freeman was killed on Oct. 7 when he was thrown from his motorcycle after it ran off the road and down an embankment on Pea Ridge Road, less than two miles from his home.
Troopers say a Kia driven by Marshall allegedly crossed over the center line forcing Freeman’s motorcycle off the road. Troopers say Marshall left the scene without calling for help.
Marshall is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, failure to maintain line, reckless driving and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
First-degree vehicular homicide carries a minimum three-year prison sentence with a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Hall County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Deputy Nicole Bailes says Marshall was arrested by state troopers on Oct. 30 at a home in Dahlonega. She’s being held in the Hall County jail without bond. A bond hearing is set for tomorrow, Nov. 6.
GSP Trooper 1st Class G.R. Harper of the patrol post in Gainesville tells Now Habersham the State Patrol is not releasing details about what led to Marshall’s arrest out of concern it might hinder the investigation and legal proceedings.
Freeman disappeared while on his way home from Florida on Oct. 7. His brother, Joel Freeman of Demorest, found his body the next day.
Jerald Freeman was the owner of About Time Tree Service in Cornelia and also worked as a skydiving instructor in Atlanta. He was a 1985 graduate of Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy and a 1987 graduate of Truett McConnell College in Cleveland.
