Teen-agers charged in Jones County slaying
Malificynt
Teen-agers charged with Jones County slaying
By Cheryl Fincher
The Macon Telegraph
Monday, April 27, 1998
GRAY, Georgia - Two teen-agers charged with killing three members of a Jones
County family had broken into the family's home earlier in the day, hours
before the fatal confrontation, authorities said Sunday.
Daniel Lucas, 18, and Brandon Rhode, 19, were charged Sunday with killing
Steven Moss, 37, his 15-year-old daughter, Kristin, and his 11-year-old son,
Bryan, said Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece. All three died of multiple
gunshot wounds.
Lucas and Rhode, who live in the Phillips Drive area of south Jones County,
about a half-mile from the Mosses, also are charged with two counts each of
burglary.
The two suspects did not know the Moss family "as far as we know," the sheriff
said.
More charges may be brought against the two teens, Reece said. But authorities
don't expect to charge any other person at this point, District Attorney Fred
Bright said.
During the investigation, authorities recovered several items that were stolen
from the Mosses' Griswoldville home. "The handguns believed used in the murders
were recovered and are awaiting ballistic comparisons at the GBI crime lab,"
Reece said.
Though the sheriff would not elaborate on exactly what was stolen, two
law-enforcement sources familiar with the case said several guns were missing
from the home, including two rifles.
Also, law-enforcement officers recovered a red 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier believed
used by the two teens. It was being processed for evidence at the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation's crime laboratory over the weekend.
The three members of the Moss family were found dead of gunshot wounds late
Thursday afternoon at their mobile home on Griswoldville Road, about two miles
northeast of the Macon city limits off Ga. 49.
Gerri Moss, the wife and mother of the victims, came home from work to find her
family slain. She has not been back and is staying with relatives, Reece said.
Bright said the suspects broke into the Moss home twice on Thursday, once
between noon and 3:30 p.m and once between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
"Additional charges are expected," Bright said after reviewing the evidence and
visiting the murder scene Sunday afternoon. He was at Rhode's and Lucas' first
appearance hearing Sunday before Magistrate Lewis Patterson.
The next step is a commitment hearing. The Jones County grand jury will hear
the case no later than August, Bright said.
In the meantime, Rhode and Lucas are being held in the Jones County jail. A
Superior Court judge would have to set bond for the teens to get out of jail
pending trial.
"We will be vehemently opposed to bond," the district attorney said.
The funeral for the Mosses is Tuesday, 2 p.m., at East Macon United Methodist
Church in Macon, with burial in Middle Georgia Memory Gardens. Visitation will
be today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Simpson-Childs Funeral Home in Gray.
The family had lived in Jones County since 1993. Steven Moss was the owner of
Moss Trucking Co., and his two children attended public schools in Jones
County.
A fund to help with funeral expenses has been set up. Donations can be made at
any Security National Bank branch or to East Macon United Methodist Church,
P.O. Box 804, Macon, Ga. 31202.
A picture of Daniel Lucas and Brandon Rhode can be viewed at:
http://www.macontel.com/local/jones0427.htm