Criminal Charges Formally Filed in 2000 Elbert County Cold Case Murder

Early Friday morning authorities announced the filing of formal criminal charges in the October 2000 murder of 67-year-old Jimmy Webb in Elbert County.

Webb was found murdered at his residence off of Cromer Road in Elberton on October 6^th, 2000.

Warrants for 59-year-old Dana Martin Grantham of Hartwell, Georgia were served Thursday at the Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, where Grantham is currently serving a sentence in connection with the October 2001 murder of Hart County resident Richard James Flanigan.

In the Webb case, Grantham has been charged with one count of Malice Murder, four counts of Felony Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, one count of Armed Robbery, one count of burglary, and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

GBI Agent in Charge Mike Ayers said Grantham’s arrest is the next step in the final resolution in this case.

“Cases such as this one are a testimony to the resolve of law enforcement to seek resolution in such serious crimes even after over a decade”, said Ayers. “The arrest of Grantham marks the next step in the final resolution of this case, as District Attorney White plans to forward this case through the Judicial System.”

Since the beginning of January 2013, the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI, and the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office have continually re-examined the case which resulted in Thursday’s arrest of Gratham.

Ayers expressed how impressed with both the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office he is.

“I just would like to openly state how impressed I am with the efforts of the Sheriff’s Department and the things that they have done since they have been in office”, said Ayers. “And of course with Mr. White and his office, with their absolute aggressive stance on crime in this community, and how they have been able to move through some files, which will hopefully lead to more criminal prosecution.”

Elbert County Sheriff Melvin Andrews expressed his gratitude to both of the other entities involved in this case.

“I really appreciate the DA’s office and the GBI office, they have really done a great job assisting us, and without their help this day would not be possible that is here today”, said Andrews.

The next step in the criminal procedure is for Grantham to be indicted by a grand jury on the charges mentioned earlier.

At this time, it is not known when the indictment will take place.