wmaz is tracking a developing investigation in Eastman after two men were found dead following what investigators describe as an apparent homicide-suicide. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Dodge County deputies responded Tuesday to a home on the 3400 block of Eastman Dublin Highway, where 48-year-old Johnathan Lee Groves was found shot inside and pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement later found 60-year-old Rex Willis Giddens in the woods near the home with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was also pronounced dead at the scene.
What investigators say happened on Eastman Dublin Highway
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the initial call brought Dodge County deputies to a residence on the 3400 block of Eastman Dublin Highway in Eastman on Tuesday. When deputies entered the home, they found Groves suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a preliminary account of the case, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said findings indicate Groves was shot by Giddens. After that, law enforcement later located Giddens in the woods near the home, where he was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene as well.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the bodies of both men will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies.
Wmaz focus: GBI, sheriff’s office, and the next steps in the case
wmaz is following the official chain of the investigation as it moves forward. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate the deaths of Groves, 48, and Giddens, 60, both identified as Eastman men.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the investigation remains ongoing. Once it is complete, the case file will be given to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
For anyone who may have information, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation urged the public to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988. The GBI also said tips can be submitted through its tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS.
Immediate reactions and official requests for information
No public comments from family members, witnesses, or local officials were included in the available statements. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s public messaging emphasized two points: the investigation is still active, and the agency is seeking information from the community.
Dodge County deputies’ role, as described by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, began with the Tuesday response to the Eastman Dublin Highway home, followed by the later discovery of Giddens in the nearby woods.
Quick context
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation described the incident as an apparent homicide-suicide involving two men in Eastman. Investigators have indicated, at the preliminary stage, that Groves was shot by Giddens.
What’s next
Investigators say autopsies will be conducted by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office, and the inquiry will continue until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation completes its work and forwards the case to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review. wmaz will continue to watch for additional confirmed details from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as this investigation proceeds.
