Nathaniel Russell

Name:
Russell, Nathaniel Lee

Date of Booking:
03/04/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY

SIMPLE BATTERY

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On March 3, 2026, while at the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, I was notified by the receptionist that someone had come to file a report. I went to the lobby and met with the female identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that she lived at [REDACTED BY AGENCY], which is located within Coweta County.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I began discussing an incident that occurred in her apartment last night involving Nathaniel Russell, her husband of five years. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began explaining that they have been having marital issues and have been attempting to separate for the past three years. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] provided a video from March 3, 2026, which was a ring surveillance camera located in her living room.

In this footage, I can see [REDACTED BY AGENCY] lying on the couch with a blanket covering her head. Nathaniel is then seen walking over to the couch, snatching the blanket off her body/head, and then attempting to argue with her. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was asked how this made her feel, and she described it as being in a fearful state as she did not know what he was going to do next. She further explained that she believed Nathaniel was provoking her to fight and argue with him.

In this video, I can visually gather that on March 3, 2026, Nathaniel did touch [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in a manner that was unwanted and used in an attempt to provoke her. During my interview with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], she provided information that this is not the first time he has touched her, and she has filed previous reports of Nathaniel hitting baby gates within the house and taking her phone away to prevent her from calling 911. At this time, probable cause is found that Nathaniel did commit the act of simple battery on the above date and time.

During this interview, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began explaining some past incidents that she found odd and that appeared out of the ordinary. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she has several videos of Nathan eating the animals throughout the house and telling her that it’s only animal cruelty if he kills them.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then began giving details that she had filed previous reports, which included accusations of family violence. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Nathan often states he will kill himself and has made the comment, “If I can’t have you, no one can”. This comment is worrisome as it adds a possible malicious thought to someone willing to commit any act to avoid seeing their significant other leave and end up with someone else.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then commented to the effect of “if I make it out”, when asked why she worded the sentence that way, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated she is worried for her safety and for her kids. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I then began discussing a safety plan for her to move into her mother’s house and to begin the divorce process with an attorney. I also began explaining TPO procedures and what all paperwork [REDACTED BY AGENCY] would need to present to a magistrate judge to have another form of protection in place for her and her kids.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then began making excuses for Nathan’s actions by stating that he had not physically harmed her, but that he did call her non-stop throughout the day and showed a call thread of approximately 20 phone calls on the date of March 3rd, 2026. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then began describing how Nathan has proceeded to distance her from money coming into bank accounts and does not allow her to see it unless she is actively talking to him and allowing all conversations to be had.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she had sought a TPO before, but did not have any documentation of violence, and the advocate told her that a judge would not sign it. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I then began discussing a safety plan to get her out of the house to where she and her children would be safe.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated the following “I don’t want you around me. I don’t like you. You’re not a nice person. I don’t want sh*t to do with you. And you know what he’ll say, well, I’m trying to do something different. He’s grabbed me. He forcefully kissed me. The other day I was lying on the couch looking up at him, and he, Spider-Man, kissed me from above like forcefully on video. And I said, are you kidding me? You, you just take it because you want it. Even though I’ve made it very clear that I don’t want it. Um, what are the laws as far as sa and marriage?”

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was informed that marriage is not a contract of consent, and although she is married, that does not allow him to touch her whenever he feels like it without consent, and if consent has been withdrawn, those facts stay until consent is given again.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated that she had been woken up from a dead sleep by his touching her, and when I referred to forceful kissing, she stated worse than that. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated that she has told him numerous times that she does not want to be touched by him, and on numerous occasions, he waits until she falls asleep to begin using his fingers and inserting them into her vagi*a, which she then is awoken and begins asking why he did that.

I then began describing the statute for rape, and when I stated the penetration of a pe*is into the vagi*a, she stated, “damn, might have me there.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was then informed that it is a separate charge of sexual battery when other items or orifices are used. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then asked if she would be a bad person for pressing charges for these incidents, as it has been going on for years, and she had a text from him admitting to doing it. I then asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] when the last time was, and she stated sometime in January, which was later found in text to have occurred over the time span of January 8th to 9th.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then advised that Nathan is currently in the military and stationed at Fort Benning. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then states that she doesn’t want to be a bad person and risk him going to prison for the incidents, which from my observations is consistent with a victim who has been mental harassed into believing that they are the issue within the home and also matches with the cycle of violence commonly seen where acts of domestic violence occur and the offender finds a way to place the blame on the victim.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then received a phone call from her mom and explained to her the following

“I told him exactly what happened. Nathan and I had a conversation at nine o’clock that night. He tried to advance, and I told him no, that I did not feel comfortable. And I woke up an hour later with his fingers inside of me.” This conversation does provide that on the date of January 8th or 9th, Nathaniel did digitally penetrate [REDACTED BY AGENCY] vagi*a.

Prior to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] leaving, I requested her consent for a digital extraction, in which she said yes. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was advised that she could withdraw consent at any time and was provided with every means necessary to withdraw consent. The phone was given to Sgt. Cox, who performed the digital extraction. At approximately 1130 Hrs., I met with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] again to provide her with further resources to help her with a domestic violence situation.

At approximately 1300 Hrs., I contacted [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and advised her that her phone was complete, and she could come back to pick it up. While she was at the Sheriff’s Office, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I discovered a text thread between her and Nathen that was on the Date of January 8th and 9th. Nathan sends a text stating, “I Hope you have a good day. I wasn’t starting an argument im trying to get to the bottom of this and find a solution. I love you.”.

A second text states “IDK why that’s funny. I don’t want this to continue to be this way.”. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] replies with “Your solution for me not wanting sex with you is to move my hand from my vagi*a while I’m asleep and place your hand there, to the point that it wakes me from my slumber and I realize what’s going on. Where was the solution piece last night?”.

Nathan replies with “the solution was not there and I'[m sorry.”.

This concluded the third interview.

On this date, I learned that Nathaniel had been arrested on his FVA warrant by the Newnan Police Department during a traffic stop. I met Nathaniel in the booking area, where his phone was collected as evidence in the case. Nathaniel was escorted to the CIU interview room, where Inv. Klein and I met with him and provided him with his Miranda Warnings.

Nathaniel began speaking with us about his time in the army and advised us that he was married. Nathaniel was asked how his marriage was, and he stated that he was about to file for a divorce due to it not going well. I asked Nathaniel why he thought he was at the jail and he advised that he knew he followed her around the apartment when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] continued to state to leave her alone, and he remembered pulling the blanket off of her head.

I then asked Nathaniel when the last time he had consensual sex with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and he advised it was two months ago. Nathaniel was asked if he remembers a night when she said no to any touching early in January. Nathan advised that the correct story was that he thought she was awake because she was fondling his genitals. I then advised that I believed she was asleep, and he was aggravated since she said no, he rolled over and began using his fingers to penetrate her vagi*a.

Nathan began taking heavy breaths, which were visible by the rise and fall of his chest. I noticed his hands beginning to shake, and then advised that he would no longer answer any questions. Inv. Klein and I began making a few statements about his duration in jail, and notifying of his army command, but Nathan was not asked any further questions.

From the above statements, I do find probable cause that Nathaniel did commit the act of aggravated sexual battery.

[End of Narrative]