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Name:
Cross, William Hunter
Date of Booking:
04/23/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
MURDER
PURCHASE/POSSESS/MANUFACT/DIST/SALE CONT SUBST-MULTIPLE CNT
RECKLESS CONDUCT
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 August 19, 2023 at approximately 1902hrs, I was dispatched to 2978 Highway 154 at O’Reilly’s parts store in reference to a cardiac arrest.
Upon arrival, I was advised by the workers that the male was located in the bathroom at the back of the store. In the bathroom, I met with Deputy Searles. I observed a white male, who was later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] sitting on the toilet with his head laid back unresponsive and pale in color.
While observing the scene, I also observed a lighter located in his right hand and an aluminum foil material laying on the floor between his legs. The aluminum foil had a black and brown burnt substance located on it. With my knowledge and training, I suspected the foil to be used to ingest illegal substances.
I then located his wife, who I identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and escorted her to the front of the building. That is when I was met by, who I identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she was [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. While speaking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], she advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] husband. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had been recovering from heroin use for approximately 3 years.
I then began speaking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised me that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was her husband. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had gone to O’Reilly’s approximately 2 hours ago to buy parts for his work truck. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised me that when she couldn’t get [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to answer the phone, and she began to worry. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she contacted the store to check on him.
The workers in the store, who I identified as [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2], which they advised they were the only two workers at the store. [WITNESS #2] advised that he needed to use the restroom. [WITNESS #2] advised that he noticed the door was locked and advised he did not have a key for the door. [WITNESS #2] advised that is when he took the door off of the hinges and propped the door inside the door frame. [WITNESS #2] stated that he observed feet and proceed to look further into the bathroom, and that is when he observed a white male on the toilet, unresponsive and called 911.
Deputy Moran and I continued to speak with [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] and they advised they observed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] come into the store at approximately 1730hrs and look around. [WITNESS #1] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] came and asked him where the bathroom was and also asked some questions. [WITNESS #1] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] went to the bathroom and was in there for approximately 1 hour before [WITNESS #2] went to use the bathroom. [WITNESS #1] advised he did not observe anything suspicious with [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
Deputy Moran advised Coweta County 911 to notify the coroner and made a phone call to Sgt. McEachern to have investigators enroute to start the death investigation.
Deputy Moran and I then went and spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and her mother. Deputy Moran advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that it was a possible overdose, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he had been clean for 3 years but heroin was his drug of choice when he was using. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was given a case card by Deputy Moran and advised her the coroner would speak with her further.
I then turned the scene over to Deputy Broadwater, waiting for investigators to arrive.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
12/4/23
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS THE CASE
What this means: Attorney Hannah Mitchell of The Pilgrim Law Group, LLC, based in Villa Rica, Georgia, filed a formal Entry of Appearance in Coweta Superior Court, notifying the court that she represents William Hunter Cross. From this point forward, all court communications were directed to her office.
12/6/23
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO SUPPRESS AND DEMAND FOR DISCLOSURE
What this means: Attorney Hannah Mitchell filed a Motion for Disclosure of Items Arguably Subject to Suppression and a Preliminary Motion to Suppress on behalf of William Hunter Cross. This motion asks the prosecution to hand over all search warrants, affidavits, and returns from any searches conducted in the case, as well as a detailed list of all property and currency seized. The defense is challenging whether the searches and seizures were conducted lawfully. If the court agrees, certain evidence could be blocked from being used at trial.
12/6/23
DEFENSE FILES MOTION RESERVING RIGHT TO FILE ADDITIONAL MOTIONS
What this means: Attorney Hannah Mitchell filed a motion asking the court to preserve William Hunter Cross’s right to file more motions later in the case. The defense argued that discovery — the process of exchanging evidence between the prosecution and defense — was still ongoing and incomplete, and that the complexity of the charges may require additional legal challenges as more information becomes available.
12/6/23
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR SPECIAL AND GENERAL DEMURRERS
What this means: Attorney Hannah Mitchell filed a Motion for Special and General Demurrers on behalf of William Hunter Cross. A demurrer is a legal challenge arguing that the charges as written are legally defective — meaning they don’t properly state a crime under Georgia law, don’t identify a specific date for the alleged offense, or are otherwise insufficient. The defense raised multiple grounds, arguing the indictment failed to adequately charge Cross with any offense under Georgia law and failed to set out the specific charge or violation clearly enough.
12/7/23
DEFENSE FILES DEMAND FOR DISCOVERY
What this means: Attorney Hannah Mitchell filed a formal Discovery Demand on behalf of William Hunter Cross, invoking Georgia’s discovery statutes under Title 17, Chapter 16. This demand requires the prosecution to provide the defense with a copy of the indictment or accusation, a witness list, all statements made by Cross, his criminal history, and access to physical evidence — including the opportunity to inspect, copy, photograph, and test any physical items. The prosecution is required by law to comply within the timeframes set by the court.
3/12/25
NEW DEFENSE ATTORNEY SUBSTITUTES INTO THE CASE
What this means: Attorney Justin Flinn of The Pilgrim Law Group, LLC, based in Villa Rica, Georgia, filed a Notice of Substitution of Counsel on March 12, 2025, replacing prior defense counsel in Case No. 23UD510 in Coweta Superior Court. From this point forward, Justin Flinn took over as the attorney of record for William Hunter Cross, and all court filings, orders, and notices were directed to his office.
2/17/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 2 COUNTS FILED AGAINST WILLIAM HUNTER CROSS
What this means: A Coweta County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against William Hunter Cross during the September 2025 Term, February 2026 Session, under Docket No. 2026R126. The indictment was filed with the court on February 17, 2026, at 3:08 PM. District Attorney John Herbert Cranford, Jr. of the Coweta Judicial Circuit is prosecuting the case. The grand jury found enough evidence to formally charge Cross with two counts:
Count 1 accuses William Hunter Cross of Felony Murder under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1(c), which means he is accused of causing another person’s death while committing a felony offense. Felony Murder is one of the most serious charges under Georgia law.
Count 2 accuses William Hunter Cross of Distribution of Fentanyl under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30(b), meaning he is accused of selling or distributing fentanyl, a controlled substance. This charge is connected to the underlying felony alleged in the murder count.
Cross is presumed innocent of all charges. The prosecuting officer listed is Shawna Wade of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.
2/19/26
ARREST ORDER ISSUED — NO BOND — WILLIAM HUNTER CROSS
What this means: Following the grand jury indictment, a judge of the Coweta Superior Court signed an Arrest Order on February 19, 2026, directing the Coweta County Sheriff to take William Hunter Cross into custody on the new felony murder charge. The order was issued with no bond, meaning Cross could not pay to be released — he would be held in jail until a court addressed the bond question.
3/11/26
WILLIAM HUNTER CROSS WAIVES FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEADS NOT GUILTY — DEMANDS JURY TRIAL
What this means: On March 11, 2026, attorney Justin Flinn filed a Waiver of Formal Arraignment and Demand for Jury Trial on behalf of William Hunter Cross in Coweta Superior Court, Case No. 2026R126. By waiving formal arraignment, Cross gave up the right to appear in court for the arraignment hearing and instead entered his not guilty plea through this written filing. The document also formally demands that the case be decided by a jury rather than a judge alone. The filing notes that this waiver does not give up any motions already filed or to be filed in the case.
4/13/26
ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED IN COWETA SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: An arraignment was scheduled for William Hunter Cross on April 13, 2026, at 8:30 AM in Coweta Superior Court. An arraignment is the formal court hearing where a defendant is read the charges against them and enters a plea. However, William Hunter Cross waived his right to appear at this arraignment by filing a written waiver on March 11, 2026, and instead entered his not guilty plea in writing through that filing.
4/30/26
STATE FILES MOTION TO REVOKE BOND OF WILLIAM HUNTER CROSS
What this means: The State of Georgia, through the Coweta County District Attorney’s Office, filed a Motion to Revoke Bond against William Hunter Cross on April 30, 2026, under Docket No. 2026R0128. The State is asking the court to take away Cross’s bond and keep him jailed while the case proceeds. The State argues that Cross poses a significant risk of committing further crimes if allowed to remain free, pointing to the new charges filed against him by Tift County at the time of his arrest — specifically, possession of amphetamines and possession of fentanyl. Cross is accused of Felony Murder, Sale of Fentanyl, and Reckless Conduct in the Coweta case.
4/30/26
JUDGE SCHEDULES HEARING ON STATE’S MOTION TO REVOKE BOND — RULE NISI ISSUED
What this means: On April 22, 2026, a judge of the Coweta Superior Court signed a Rule Nisi ordering that the State’s Motion to Revoke Bond be heard before the presiding judge on August 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM. A Rule Nisi is a court order that sets a date for both sides to appear and argue a pending motion. This hearing gives William Hunter Cross and his attorney the opportunity to respond to the State’s request to revoke his bond before the judge makes a ruling.
5/8/26
STATE FILES ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
What this means: On May 8, 2026, Jessica Mardis, a Legal Assistant with the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, filed an Electronic Discovery Certificate of Authenticity in Coweta Superior Court under Docket No. 2026R0126. The certificate confirms that the prosecution formally served discovery materials on the defense in the case against William Hunter Cross. Discovery is the legal process by which the prosecution shares its evidence with the defense before trial. The materials are associated with internal reference number 23COW01699 and were processed through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PAC), a state agency based in Morrow, Georgia that provides support services to prosecutors statewide. Assistant District Attorney Nathan P. Stewart of the Coweta Judicial Circuit is listed as the prosecuting attorney on the filing.
8/4/26
PRE-TRIAL HEARING SCHEDULED IN COWETA SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: A pre-trial hearing in the criminal case against William Hunter Cross is scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Coweta Superior Court. At a pre-trial hearing, the judge typically addresses any remaining motions, confirms that both sides are ready to proceed, discusses potential settlement or plea negotiations, and handles other procedural matters before the case moves to trial. This hearing will also serve as the hearing date for the State’s Motion to Revoke Bond, which was set by Rule Nisi on April 30, 2026.
8/17/26
JURY TRIAL SCHEDULED IN COWETA SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: A jury trial in the criminal case against William Hunter Cross is scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Coweta Superior Court. At trial, a jury will hear evidence from both the prosecution and the defense and decide whether William Hunter Cross is guilty or not guilty of the charges against him — Felony Murder and Distribution of Fentanyl. Cross has demanded a jury trial rather than having a judge decide the case alone.