Richmond County authorities have locked up a parolee for the Oct. 31 brutal beating death of a homeless man in Elliott Park.
DeMarcus Deion Thomas is accused of the gruesome killing on Halloween morning, repeatedly pounding on Michael Whitfield with his fists and then stealing two candy bars from the dead man’s pockets, authorities said. The body of the 59-year-old victim was found lying on the ground of the park, dead from blunt force trauma, sheriff’s Sgt. Walter McNeil said.
Thomas, 31, of Reedale Avenue, was locked up on Nov. 1, and he is facing charges of murder and robbery by force. Warrants say that he beat Whitfield in his face until the victim went down. Then, Thomas stomping the homeless man in his face, chest and body until the victim succumbed to the injuries and died. That’s when the suspect took the candy bars.
The suspect was paroled from Georgia prison in 2021 after serving just four years of a 20-year sentence for two burglaries and a trespassing in Crisp County. While in prison, he created a Facebook page and posted photos from his cell.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office did not announce Thomas’ arrest, but they continue investigating the case. The agency released a flyer last Monday asking for information on a suspect who they wanted to question in the death. Thomas remained Sunday at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where he was being held without bond.
