Aaron James Paxton, Timothy Dale Pennington, Jeffrey Cole Eicher
KINGSLAND, Ga. -- The investigation into the November shooting death of a local soldier ramped up over the weekend, leading to the discovery of the possible murder weapon.
According to the Camden County Sheriff's Office, two men found the body of 25-year-old James A. Willis off Union Carbide Road, near the entrance to Cabin Bluff, on Nov. 15.
Willis was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head, Deputy William Terrell indicated in a news release this afternoon.
Three people were arrested for the murder, including a soldier from Ft. Stewart, which is also where Willis was based. Specialist Jeffrey Cole Eicher, 23, of Ft. Stewart, Aaron James Paxton, 36, of St. Marys, and Timothy Dale Pennington, 39, of Kingsland, all face murder charges.
During a search Sunday in the area of Deep Creek west of where Willis' body was found, investigators found a .38 caliber revolver, which Terrell said is consistent with Willis' fatal wound, though the Georgia Bureau of Investigations crime lab is verifying that the gun is the murder weapon.
The following day, the Army issued a response to the death of one of their own:
The Third Infantry Division expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences for the family of Specialist James Willis. The loss of a Soldier or Family member within the Marne Division is a deep tear in the fabric of our community.
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Camden County law enforcement officials are coordinating their efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding Spc. Willis' death. The Marne Division will actively assist all external law enforcement agencies requests for information.
The Third Infantry Division is currently providing support to the family of Spc. Willis in this time of need.
First Coast News