A Brunswick man who has spent nearly three years in the Richmond County jail after he was allegedly found driving a homicide victim’s vehicle and wearing clothes stained with the victim’s blood will remain in jail.
At the conclusion of a Richmond County Superior Court bond jury for Ri’Chard Bryant, 23, on Tuesday, Feb. 1, Judge Amanda Heath denied bond, finding Bryant could pose a flight risk and danger of committing additional crimes.
Bryant has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, armed robbery, theft and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime in the Nov. 25, 2018, slaying of 40-year-old Damien T. Jenkins.
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When Jenkins didn’t show up for work Nov. 26, 2018, his mother was called, and she went to Jenkins’ Mill Street home where she made a horrible discovery, said Assistant District Attorney Timothy O’Brien.
Someone stabbed Jenkins 28 times and bashed his head, according to the medical examiner. Sheriff investigators got a break from the work of a patrol deputy who had responded to a domestic disturbance at Jenkins’ home earlier in the week. The deputy recorded the personal information of the two involved in the dispute, Jenkins and Bryant, O’Brien said. The victim’s vehicle was also missing.
Bryant was stopped in Jenkins’ car in Brunswick, O’Brien said. Jenkins’ blood was on his clothing, and fingerprints in the victim’s blood were matched to Bryant, the prosecutor said.
Defense attorney Jordan Price asked the judge to consider bond for Bryant, who could live with his mother in Brunswick and return to Augusta for future court proceedings. Bryant plans include getting his GED and starting a lawncare business, Price said.
