Accused shooter in 2013 execution-style slaying in Houston County pleads guilty to murder

The accused shooter in a 2013 execution-style double-homicide in Houston County has pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder and two counts of concealing a death.

Thomas Andrew Kelley, 22, was sentenced by Superior Court Chief Judge George Nunn to life in prison for the murders plus 10 years for concealing the deaths, according to court records.

The other indicted charges against Kelley were dismissed as part of a negotiated plea agreement, records show. The charges dismissed were two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of tampering with evidence.

The plea agreement also calls for Kelley to provide truthful testimony against the remaining co-defendants, according to court records.

Kelley and Lawrence Crouch, 22, were accused of the Aug. 18, 2013, drug-related slayings of two California men in a rented Chadwick Road residence where Crouch lived. Shaland D. McConnell, 30, and Ruben Guillermo Miranda, 32, both were shot in the back of the head with a .45-caliber Glock pistol.

The men's bodies were dumped in a heavily wooded area off U.S. 41, Ga. 49 and North Houston Lake Road.

Crouch faces trial on two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of concealing a death and one count of tampering with evidence.

Amy Patricia Walker, 21, of Macon, also faces trial on two counts of concealing a death and one count of tampering with evidence, according to court records. Walker is accused of helping to clean up the crime scene and concealing the deaths.

Two others initially indicted in connection with the slaying previously made deals with prosecutors.

Kristen Ann Beuthin, 20, of Loganville, is serving a 12-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of concealing a death and one count of tampering with evidence. Beuthin was Kelley's girlfriend at the time of the slaying.

Her plea agreement included dismissal of two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault, according to court records. The agreement also required her to give truthful testimony against others accused in the slayings.

Beuthin's sentence included 18 years on probation, first-offender status which would allow her to have her criminal record cleared after successfully serving the sentence, banishment from Houston and contiguous counties, and a $1,000 fine.

Justice Bernard Evans, 21, of Macon, previously struck a similar deal except his sentence included 10 years in prison and 20 years on probation. Walker was Evans' girlfriend at the time of the slayings.

Crouch is being held at the Houston County jail without bond. Walker is free on a $10,000 bond.

Kelley's attorney, Houston County Public Defender Nick White, and Assistant District Attorney Brian Granger could not be reached for comment.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Accused shooter in 2013 execution-style slaying in Houston County pleads guilty to murder ."