Bowman Man Indicted for Murder of Girlfriend

A Bowman man has been indicted on murder charges by the Hart County Grand Jury.

Last week, the Grand Jury indicted 41-year-old Matthew Lavern Carey on one count of felony Malice Murder, one count of Felony Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, Family Violence, and one count of Concealing the Death of Another.

According to the indictment, on or about April 28th, Carey allegedly attacked and then strangled 36-year-old Candy Downer of Bowman.

According to Hartwell Police Investigator Lt. Sherod Blackwell at approximately 9:27p Sunday night officers were called to the Daynight Inn in reference to a female found deceased in one of their rooms.

Blackwell said GBI agents were contacted and took over the investigation.

Count 4 of the indictment alleges that after strangling Downer, Carey redressed the body and then left it in an abandoned motel room in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Carey was arrested and in May was denied bond.

He remains in the Hart County Detention Center.