Stephens County Teen Indicted in Death of Mother

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

In Stephens County, a teen charged in the shooting death of his mother, has been indicted.

On Monday, a Stephens County Grand Jury handed down a true bill against the 15-year old.  That indictment charges the teen with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, and Aggravated Assault.

On September 29th, authorities charged the juvenile, whose name was not released by authorities, with malice murder in connection to the shooting death of his mother, 46-year-old Kim Lanier at their Prather Bridge Road home.

Kim Lanier was an owner of the Cutting Edge Day Spa in Toccoa and her husband is the fire chief of the Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department in Stephens County.

Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman said the boy knew what he was doing when he shot his mother.

At a hearing last month, Bridgeman said the boy took his mother’s life after some deliberation and forethought.

But the teen’s attorney, Tim Healy, pointed to the numerous physical and mental challenges the teen faces and calls the case different than others he has dealt with.

A judge last month ordered the boy to undergo a competency evaluation.

No word on whether the teen will be tried as an adult.  He remains in a juvenile detention center.