GBI Makes Arrest in Wayne County Death Investigation

Update - October 11, 2020

Devante Batton, age 24, has turned himself in to the Bacon County Sheriff's Office.  Our Douglas Office and Kingsland Office would like to thank the Camden County K9 Unit for their assistance in locating Tuck Taylor. 

Alma, GA (October 8, 2020) – On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, GBI agents and Bacon County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested D’vonta O’Neal, 25, of Alma, charged with one count of Felony Murder, one count Party to the Crime of Aggravated Assault, and one count of Party to the Crime of Armed Robbery. Warrants have also been obtained for Devante Batton, 24, of Alma, charged with one count of Felony Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, one count f Armed Robbery, and one count of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Crime. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Devante Batton is encouraged to contact the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 632-5161 or the GBI Douglas office at (912) 389-4103. These charges are in connection to the death of Tuck Taylor, who had been missing from Alma, GA since Friday, October 2.

On Monday, October 5, 2020, the GBI’s Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a missing person investigation. On Saturday, October 3, 2020, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office initiated a missing person investigation regarding Tuck Taylor, 47, of Alma. Taylor was last seen on Friday October 2, 2020, by family members. On Wednesday, October 7, the investigation led investigators to a wooded area near West Lake Drive, in Screven, Wayne County, GA. GBI agents from the Douglas and Kingsland regional offices, Bacon County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office investigators located Taylor, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Taylor’s body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler for autopsy.