The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a man suspected of leaving the body of a female victim in Cornelia was located by Flock cameras earlier this week.
Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright told Now Habersham on Friday, Feb. 21, that authorities were alerted to the whereabouts of Lee Howard Daffin, 57, of Conyers, after his tag was pinged by Flock camera systems in Habersham County, indicating the suspect was headed toward Stephens County at the time.
Since his arrest, Daffin has been charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats and acts by the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the incident report obtained from Rockdale County officials, Daffin has allegedly been tied to the death of Jocelyn Goodwine, who is said to have gone missing from her home in Conyers after an alleged domestic dispute between her and the suspect.
The body of a woman, believed by authorities to be Woodwine, was found in a wooded area at the end of Carpenters Cove Lane in Cornelia early Thursday morning.
Now Habersham has reached out to Rockdale County authorities for more information on Daffin’s charges and the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Flock cameras track suspect
“(The suspect) did hit Flock cameras in Habersham County heading this way,” Fulbright said. “So our guys went out there to the top of the mountain and waited until a vehicle fitting that description came by.”
Daffin was arrested Wednesday after leading authorities on a police chase on GA 365/17 Alternate in Stephens County. The Georgia State Patrol joined in the pursuit at the intersection of Highways 106 and 145 before Daffin was apprehended on Collier Road near Swift Street south of Toccoa.
While Flock cameras have continued to be a topic of controversy in some circles – with opponents arguing potential civil liberty and privacy violations – Fulbright said this is another instance where they prove effective in combating crime.
“I know a lot of folks say it’s an invasion of privacy, but they’re on the highways of the state and the county,” Fulbright said. “…in this case, it was super beneficial by catching up with a suspect who allegedly committed murder.”
Background
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.
Authorities say Daffin was later tracked down in Stephens County after he told police he was headed to Lake Chatuge in North Georgia to fish.
Daffin remains in the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office’s custody. Investigators say the case remains under investigation.
