Man charged with killing girlfriend released from jail when police find new suspect by chance

CLARKSON, Ga. — A Georgia man accused of murdering his girlfriend two years ago is now out of jail after a shell casing led police to a very different suspect.

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Daniel Hall, then 22, was arrested in the 2016 shooting death of Kendra Roberts, 27, in Bibb County. Police say Roberts was found shot to death on the side of the road near Macon.

Hall spent two years in jail accused of Roberts’ murder.

A man arrested in Clarkson days after the killing has now been charged with her murder.

Police arrested Sterling Bell in Clarkston's Milam Park in 2016 for having a loaded gun in a public park. At the time, they did not connect him to Roberts' murder, though he was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Bell's gun was taken into storage while he was in jail. He never returned to pick up the weapon.

Clarkson police recently went to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives to fire some 50 stored guns to see if any shell casings had the unique markings of casings found around crime scenes.

Police were able to link shell casings from Bell's gun to Roberts' murder. Bell was arrested Saturday.

“Most people would think it is petty crime, or a petty offense, but it led to the capture of a potential murderer," Clarkston police Sgt. Jason Elliot said.

According to federal documents, Bell has been treated by Veteran's Affairs and has a history of PTSD and homicidal and suicidal thoughts. He was charged with firing a gun in Pine Lake in 2015 and for shoplifting this year.

Hall is now out of jail on bond. The D.A.'s office says his case has been postponed indefinitely, but is still under investigation.

Cox Media Group