A Savannah-Chatham police homicide investigator said Thursday the department had compiled enough evidence to charge a man shot to death in March with the Sept. 1, 2012, double slaying of Emily Pickels and Michael Biancosino.
However, a dead person can’t be formally charged with a crime.
The district attorney’s office and police department recently determined 32-year-old Sidney Grant was responsible for the Labor Day weekend double shooting, said detective Jonathan Puhala. The pair was found dead about 4 a.m. inside Biancosino’s crashed car at the intersection of Henry Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; police have indicated the shooting occurred several blocks farther east on Henry, near Pickels’ apartment.
Investigators had been searching for Grant, who was also wanted on unrelated warrants, when they found him dead about 2 a.m. March 16 in front of Frozen Paradise, in the 600 block of Indian Street.
Ultimately, Puhala said, it was recently returned scientific evidence that conclusively linked Grant to a white hatch-back vehicle allegedly used in the slayings that determined his involvement.
“With that, along with other things that have come since this murder, we were able to obtain enough evidence to charge him,” Puhala said.
Investigators, the detective added, have determined a motive in the crime, but Puhala did not release that information.
He did confirm police never had reason to believe either Biancosino, a 30-year-old aspiring lawyer, or Pickels, a 21-year-old tour guide, were involved in any illegal or illicit activity.
Most important, he said, the investigation is continuing as police search for Grant’s accomplices in the homicides.
“We’re asking the public for any information on any of the accomplices that may have helped (Grant) in this case,” Puhala said.
“You can’t charge a dead man with murder ... However, we do know that he did not act alone; he did have help, and the investigation will continue until we can figure out who helped him commit this murder.”
A reward of up to $13,225 is available through CrimeStoppers for information that leads to arrests in the case.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential tip line that allows callers to speak directly to investigators but does not offer anonymity or reward money also is available at 912-525-3124.
