Kevin Lambert has pleaded guilty in a case involving the death and dismemberment of a Wilmington Island man and a fatal standoff in the Rincon area in January.
Lambert and his sister, Kimberly Moretz, were accused of concealing the death of Charlie Ray, 35.
Lambert pleaded guilty on Aug. 6 to hindering the apprehension of a criminal, according to Assistant District Attorney Brian Deal.
Superior Court Judge F. Gates Peed sentenced Lambert to five years on probation and required him to stay out of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit and stay away from Ray’s family.
Lambert, who has been in jail since January, was given credit for time served, Deal said.
Also on Aug. 6, a jury was chosen for Moretz. Her trial is set for Sept. 23-Sept. 25 before Peed, Deal said.
She is charged with concealing the death of another, hindering apprehension of a criminal and tampering with evidence.
Her husband, Chad Moretz, took her hostage on Jan. 11 in their house in the Westwood Heights subdivision in the Rincon area.
Chad Moretz was shot to death by a Savannah SWAT team member after an armed standoff with police.
When investigators entered the hostage scene at the Whitehall Avenue home, they discovered Ray’s partial remains. His torso and limbs were found in garbage bags in a rental storage unit rented by Kimberly Moretz in Jasper County, S.C.
Investigators believe Chad Moretz stabbed Ray to death in the kitchen of the Moretz residence on Jan. 1 or 2.
Police warn of potential traffic woes around Whole Foods
Police will pay particular attention to traffic patterns developing in the East Victory Drive and Truman Parkway area this morning as Savannah’s Whole Foods opens for business.
Traffic and patrol officers will be on the lookout for traffic problems during the store’s opening, scheduled for 8:30 a.m., said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.
The department’s mobile command center will be on hand so officers can answer questions or handle any issues that may arise, Miller said.
The area traditionally sees heavy traffic, and police are concerned the additional traffic could overwhelm the roadway at times, Miller said, adding that school traffic on the second day of the Savannah-Chatham public school year could also add to congestion.
Police are asking motorists planning to drive through the area to consider other routes or leave early.
Lane of U.S. 80 in Pooler closed tonight
The eastbound lane of U.S. 80/Ga. 26 between Wild Cat Road and Brighton Wood Drive in Pooler will be closed from 7 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Wednesday for maintenance.
State Department of Transportation crews will remove rough pavement and replace it with a smoother surface, weather permitting.
Motorists should expect minor delays in the work zone and watch out for personnel and equipment operating close to travel lanes.
FBI seeking suspect, person of interest in Midway bank robbery
The FBI is requesting the public’s help identifying and locating the individual or individuals responsible for the Wednesday robbery of a Midway bank.
At about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, a man holding a black semi-automatic handgun entered the Heritage Bank at 248 Butler Ave. in Midway and announced a robbery, said Special Agent Stephen Emmett, spokesman for the FBI’s Atlanta office.
The robber, carrying a white or light tan canvas bag, obtained an undisclosed amount of money and left the bank, possibly in a gray Ford Crown Victoria, Emmett said.
The FBI describes the robber as a black male who is 25-35 years old, stands 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, has a slender build, and was wearing a black V-neck shirt, light blue baseball-style cap and a black partial face mask. He was also wearing distinctive baby blue ankle-high athletic shoes.
In conjunction with the bank surveillance photos of the known robber, the FBI is releasing bank surveillance photos of a person of interest possibly associated in this matter. Earlier on the day of the robbery, an unknown man, wearing a white tank top and a wool cap with Atlanta Braves logo appeared at the teller counter of the above bank. This same individual was observed about one hour prior the above robbery at the IGA grocery store, located across the street from the victim bank, according to the FBI.
Anyone with information on this robbery or these individuals should contact CrimeStoppers Savannah at 912-234-2020 or the Atlanta office of the FBI at 404-679-9000 or Atlanta@ic.fbi.gov.
Investigation into fatal wreck involving train continues
The investigation by police into Sunday’s fatal wreck involving a train near Port Wentworth is continuing, and no new information about the investigation or conditions of the survivors was available Monday.
At 1:49 p.m. Sunday, a CSX train carrying mixed freight struck an SUV that witnesses told police had been driven around downed crossing arms on the 200 block of Gulfstream Road near Ga. 21.
Two of the SUV’s four occupants, 57-year-old Martha Newton of Westlake Avenue and 34-year-old Amanda Newton of Atlanta, died at the scene, said Savannah-Chatham police spokesman Julian Miller on Sunday.
A third, 35-year-old Vanessa Newton of Atlanta, was flown to Memorial University Medical Center in critical condition. Fourteen-year-old A-Mirackle Newton, also of Atlanta, was taken to Memorial by ambulance and she was listed in stable condition Sunday, Miller said.
Memorial could not release updates about the victims’ conditions Monday.
Chatham County raccoon tests positive for rabies
A raccoon in Chatham County has tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was trapped after a family dog got into an altercation with the raccoon in the Fort Argyle Road area of Chatham County.
The dog is current on his vaccinations, and no humans were exposed to the raccoon, said Sally Silbermann of the Coastal Health District.
Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. Residents should avoid contact with wild or stray animals, watch for unusual behavior in pets and wildlife and get pets vaccinated against rabies.
Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth and paralysis.
The Chatham County Health Department offers these tips to protect you and your family from rabies:
• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines by four months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later and another one every one or three years depending on the type of vaccine used.
• Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to help. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.
If an animal bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Chatham County Animal Control at 912-525-2408 and the Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 912-356-2160.
Police seek man for questioning in homicide probe
Detectives are asking the public’s help in locating a man they would like to speak with about the March 24 fatal shooting of 35-year-old Amistica Ganene Grell in Savannah’s Cuyler-Brownville neighborhood.
Grell was declared dead on the front porch of her house in the 600 block of West 40th Street about 10 p.m. that day.
Homicide detectives are seeking Blaine Conan Dunbar, 39, who has lived on the 2100 block of Harden Street, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.
Police describe Dunbar as a black man who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds. Dunbar is known to frequent the areas of Cann Park, West 37th Street and Harden and Burroughs streets.
Police ask anyone with information on Dunbar’s whereabouts or other information about the case to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential tip line that connects callers directly to investigators can be accessed at 912-525-3124.
Roadwork ongoing in Thunderbolt tonight
Inside eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 80 at its intersection with River Drive in Thunderbolt will be closed from 7 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Wednesday, weather permitting.
The state Department of Transportation will use the lane closures for stripping the median.
Motorists are asked to reduce speeds as they travel through the work zone.
Compiled by DeAnn Komanecky, Dash Coleman and Josh Rayburn