Macon County, GA –  A Montezuma man has been arrested after a month-long violent crime spree that included murdering three individuals, stabbing another, committing an armed robbery, shooting at Mercer University students, and stealing a vehicle.

On Friday, January 19, 2018, at approximately 1:20 p.m., family members discovered the bodies of Ruthe Bracknell, 77, and her son Mark Abbott, 53, inside their home located at 10 Erie Street in Andersonville, Georgia. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Each victim had been shot to death. No motive was found for the killings.

On Sunday, January 21, 2018, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the Montezuma Police Department responded to the report of a nude woman, who was covered in blood, walking down South Dooly Street.  Officers found the woman with her throat cut and with multiple stab wounds.  The GBI was called to assist with the case.  The victim was taken to Navicent Medical Center in Macon and survived her injuries.  The woman reported that while walking near 105 E. Walnut Street she was attacked by Quentin Sanders, 41.  The victim reported that the assault by Sanders was unprovoked and that he did not take anything from her.

Arrest warrants were taken for Sanders and law enforcement officers began searching for him.  Later Sunday night, Sanders turned himself to the Montezuma Police Department.

On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, GBI agents began developing information that Sanders was responsible for more than the stabbing incident.  Agents were able to recover evidence that also linked Sanders to the murders of Bracknell and Abbott. 

Further investigation found that Sanders may have committed a series of violent crimes in Macon, Bibb County earlier in the month.  Investigators from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office were contacted and the multiple law enforcement agencies were able to expand the investigation to include Sanders:

-fatally shooting Ida Mae Ford on January 8th

-committing an armed robbery on January 10th

-firing shots at students near Mercer University on January 10th

-committing an armed carjacking on January 12th.The stolen vehicle was recovered in Montezuma.

In Macon County, Sanders is charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has charged Sanders with murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, and hijacking a motor vehicle. 

 Sanders is presently being held in the Macon County Jail.

Bahan Rich – Public Affairs Deputy Director | Decatur | [email protected]