Tipsters get reward for helping Warner Robins officials solve murder, arson case
Three Houston County residents who called law enforcement regarding a house fire were rewarded with money Friday after their tips helped arrest, prosecute and convict a man for murder and arson.
The Georgia Arson Control awarded $14,000, split between three anonymous tipsters who called 911 on Jan. 10, 2021, after seeing their neighbor’s house on fire on Clairmont Drive in Warner Robins.
Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards said Friday that without “the people bravely coming forward, testifying ... and telling law enforcement about the things that they saw, we wouldn’t have any ability to get it to court and hold these individuals who commit crimes like these accountable.”
The victim in the case was Lisa Brooks, who was strangled to death by her son, Spencer Brooks, and was burned inside the house. She suffered third-degree burns to her body and the house had over $100,000 worth of damage according to Justin Duane, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. Spencer Brooks is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after a jury convicted him on July 17, 2024, of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and arson.
Duane explained that they had not known that the Georgia Arson Control awarded tipsters in arson cases, but they were happy to set it up for those who helped convict Spencer Brooks. The awards are given directly to civilians who helped the case.
“What we do want to celebrate today is the people who came forward, without the knowledge of a reward, and helped with the investigation, and provided information for the arrest and successful prosecution and conviction of a dangerous person,” Kenneth LeCroy, consultant for Georgia Arson Control, said.
