Rockdale County authorities have identified the man suspected of murdering a woman and then dumping her body in Cornelia.
Lee Howard Daffin, 57, of Conyers, was arrested Wednesday after leading authorities on a police chase on GA 365/17 Alternate in Stephens County.
Daffin is accused of killing Jocelyn Goodwine at her home in Conyers during a domestic dispute. Deputies say the alleged altercation was recorded in a voicemail sent to Goodwine’s cousin.
Voicemail captured a ‘loud BANG’
According to the incident report Now Habersham obtained from the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Goodwine and Daffin could be heard in the voicemail arguing over her telephone. She accused him of taking it and told him she wanted it back. As the argument escalated, investigators reported hearing a “dull thud” and the man allegedly threatening to kill Goodwine. The report says that was followed by “a loud BANG,” and the man saying, “I didn’t mean to do that.”
A family member reported Goodwine missing on the morning of Feb. 19, three days after they last spoke with her. Conducting a welfare check at Goodwine’s home, a deputy reported seeing a motorcycle in the garage that came back as being registered to Daffin.
Speaking to Daffin by phone, an investigator described him as “cagey” about his whereabouts. Daffin eventually revealed he was going fishing at Lake Chatuge in North Georgia. Rockdale County authorities issued a lookout for Goodwine’s vehicle on Feb. 19, and later that same day, they obtained a copy of the disturbing voicemail.
Police chase ends in arrest
Identified as a possible murder suspect, the search for Daffin intensified. Around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, Stephens County deputies observed a vehicle matching the description of the wanted vehicle traveling on GA 365/Hwy. 17 Alternate. When they attempted to pull him over, they say the driver, later identified as Daffin, fled and led law enforcement on a police chase.
The Georgia State Patrol joined in the pursuit at the intersection of Highways 106 and 145. The chase ended when the suspect’s vehicle stopped on Collier Road near Swift Street south of Toccoa. There, authorities took Daffin into custody.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office turned Daffin over to Rockdale authorities Wednesday evening. Six hours later, Rockdale alerted Habersham County authorities that a body had been dumped off Carpenters Cove Lane in Cornelia.
Shortly after midnight on Feb. 20, multiple agencies responded to where the body was found. It was off a dirt road approximately half a mile from the US 441 Business District in Cornelia.
The body still hasn’t officially been identified. Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire says he sent the remains to the Rockdale County Coroner’s Office for examination.
Daffin remains in the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office’s custody. Now Habersham has requested information regarding the charges filed against him. Investigators say the case remains under investigation.
