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Written by A. Smith
Published November 12, 2022 @ 10:23 AM ET
Warning: The following story contains strong language and domestic violence. Discretion is advised.
Gilmer County (October 12, 2022) – An Ellijay man has been arrested on murder charges for violently beating his girlfriend to death, police say.
Police were called to 11866 Tails Creek Road after Johnathan Kyle Tatum, 25, called to report that his girlfriend had fallen in the shower and was unresponsive and not breathing. When they arrived at the home, Tatum warned officers that the fall “fucked her face up.” He showed them to the bathroom, where they found the victim, Ashley Peterson, 29, naked and motionless, lying on the floor.
A witness at the residence was attempting to perform CPR on Peterson. Officers took over to assess the victim and stated that she was cold to the touch and they could not locate a pulse.
Officers immediately noticed that the victim had sustained substantial injuries that were inconsistent with falling in the shower, as stated by Tatum. The victim had bruising on her eyes, forehead, ears, neck, and jawline. She also had bruising on her stomach and legs. She was bleeding from her left ear, and both ears were discolored and swollen shut. Officers noted several lacerations on her face and eyes. She had two cuts on her left knee and her right foot.
Officers attempted to check her pupils, but her eyes were so swollen they could barely open them. There was vomit on the floor nearby, which Tatum stated was from him attempting to get the vomit out of her mouth.
EMS arrived on the scene to begin life-saving measures on Peterson in an attempt to regain a pulse.
Tatum was frantic, going in and out of the house’s front door. Per reports, he was repeatedly yelling for officers to save her. He told officers that they were both drug users and had been on a meth bender for the last few days. Tatum would have outbursts screaming for EMS to give her Narcan to save her.
Officers sent Tatum outside of the residence so they could secure the scene. Family members of Peterson began to arrive on the scene and were distraught. They were fighting to get up the stairs to the residence to reach Peterson. Officers called for backup to help control the growing crowd outside the home.
While EMS worked on Peterson, officers noted that her hair and body were not wet. The shower floor and faucet did not appear wet. They located a bra in the shower that was partially wet. Water droplets were noted on the bathroom floor, which suggested that the bra was wet when placed in the shower and had dripped across the floor.
Due to the circumstances, officers believed that she did not fall in the shower and that she had been fatally beaten. They called for detectives and the GBI to investigate the scene further.
After 50 minutes of EMS working on Peterson, they were able to regain a pulse. She was transported to Piedmont Mountainside Medical Center in Ellijay. She later died at the hospital due to the seriousness of her injuries.
Outside of the home, Tatum was crying and pacing in the yard. He made the statement that “this is all my fault.” He also stated that “it was sad that, at this moment, all he could think about was getting high, and he wished he could get high right now.”
As a result of the investigation, detectives determined that Tatum had fatally beaten Peterson during a physical altercation. He was arrested on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. He was transported to the Gilmer County Detention Center and is being held without bond. This case is currently pending in court.
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 October 12, 2022 at approximately 0917 hours, I, Cpl.Pim #553, with the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office responded code three (emergency lights and sirens) to [11800 BLOCK] Tails Creek Rd in reference to a person down. Gilmer Dispatch advised a 29 year old female had fallen in the shower, was unresponsive and not breathing.
Upon my arrival, I was waved down by a male at the front door of the residence wearing khaki shorts and a grayish/dark shirt. I followed him into the residence and he pointed me in the direction of where the female was located. I asked what happened and the male, identified as Johnathan “Kyle” Tatum (DOB: [REDACTED]) stated that she had fallen in the shower and “it fu*ked up her face up”.
When entering the residence, I turned to the right and went through the bedroom door where there was a naked woman lying on the floor and I could see visible bruising on her face, body and she was bleeding from the face and ear. Deputy Stanley then arrived on scene and entered the residence. There was a woman identified as [WITNESS #1] (DOB: [REDACTED]) attempting CPR on the female. I then instructed them both to give me space and allow me room to check on the female. I immediately checked for a pulse and the female was cold to the touch and I was unable to locate a pulse. I advised Gilmer County Dispatch to have OnCall CID respond to my location.
The female appeared to have bruising on her eyes, forehead, ears, neck, and jaw line. She had several lacerations on her face and eyes. Her left ear was bleeding and both ears were discolored and swollen so bad that you could not see the normal ear definition and were completely swollen shut. There was possible vomit on the floor to the right of her and the male had stated that he was pulling the vomit from her mouth and throat. The female also had bruising around her throat, on her arms, stomach, and legs. I noticed there were two small cuts on her left knee and also on the top of her right foot.
I attempted to check the female’s pupils and her eyes were swollen so much that I could barely open one of them. Mr. Tatum was all over the house and was going in and out the front and back door of the residence. I walked out to speak with him and to try to get him to relax until I had other units on scene to help with Ms. [VICTIM #1]. Mr. Tatum continued to yell for me to save her and I informed him that there was nothing I could do at this time and I needed him to stay calm for EMS to arrive on scene to help me. Mr. Tatum agreed to step outside of the residence with Deputy Stanley #547. I then requested for Sgt. Perigo to be en route to the scene non-emergency.
Gilmer County Fire and EMS Battalion Chief [REDACTED] arrived on scene along with a med unit and Engine one. Chief [REDACTED], Lt. Perkins, Paramedic [REDACTED], Paramedic [REDACTED], Firefighter/EMT [REDACTED], and Firefighter/EMT [REDACTED] took over patient care and began life saving measures in attempt to regain a pulse on Ms. [VICTIM #1].
Mr. Tatum attempted to come back in the residence and I asked Mr. Tatum to stay out of the residence as he was very distraught and I needed him to calm down outside. I advised him that EMS was trying everything that they could however; I needed him to stay calm and be in one area. Mr. Tatum stated that they both are drug users and that they had been on a meth bender for the last couple of days. He would go through screaming moments and yell that we had to narcan her and that we had to save her. I was in the room and bathroom area as EMS worked on Ms. [VICTIM #1].
It did not appear that Ms. [VICTIM #1] had been in the shower, her hair nor her body was wet, the shower floor, faucet nor outside the shower appeared to be wet, a bra and several things were lying in the shower floor. The bra that was in the shower was the only thing that had water on it. There were a couple of drops of water across the floor; that seemed to indicate that the bra was wet when placed in the shower and had dripped in the floor.
I noticed the only thing I could see with blood on it was a pillow that was right inside of the bathroom door and leaning against the bathroom cabinet close to where the female was lying. I then called Detective Farnham #594 and advised him of the situation and also that this was more than a female falling in the shower. Detective Farnham asked me to elaborate and I advised him that I felt the female had been beaten and that I would send him pictures. Detective Farnham received the pictures and advised me that CID would be en-route and that he was going to notify Captain Shepard.
I then could hear a lot of commotion coming from outside of the residence and Deputy Stanley yelled for me to come outside. I then exited the residence where I saw a female, identified as Ms. [VICTIM #1]’s step mother, [REDACTED] (DOB: [REDACTED]) fighting to get up the stairs of the residence and there were several other family members who had arrived on scene. I spoke with [REDACTED] and advised her that she could not go in the residence at this time and that I needed her to stay out of the residence so EMS could try and help her daughter. I then requested for Sgt. Perigo to respond emergency due to needing assistance to secure the scene and keep crowd control.
Upon Sgt. Perigo’s arrival, I advised him of the situation and asked him to help keep the family calm. Deputy Stanley started a Crime Scene Log and Detective’s began arriving on scene.
After 50 minutes Battalion Chief [REDACTED] advised that they received a pulse back and that they were preparing the female for transport to the hospital. I advised Detective Farnham when he arrived on scene of an update and took him inside of the residence and he took over the scene.
Mr. Tatum was sitting outside of the residence with the family and was going through spells of crying and walking around to sitting on the ground and talking to his family. Mr. Tatum stated several times “this is all my fault”. While talking to his mom, [REDACTED] (DOB: [REDACTED]) and [REDACTED] ([REDACTED]) he stated that it was sad that in this moment all he can think about is getting high and that he wished he was getting high at that moment.
We then requested Gilmer EMS to return to the scene to check on Mr. Tatum and the step mother due to Mr. Tatum stating that he had been doing meth and step mother having chest pain. Mr. Tatum was cleared by EMS and refused needing to go to the hospital and Step mother was transport by another family member to get herself checked at the Emergency room. I stayed on scene until GBI arrived and took over.
I then reported to Gilmer County Criminal Investigation’s Division where I met with GBI agent Hamby and Captain Shepard. Captain Shepard completed a Victim’s Notification and provided me with it.
I then placed Mr. Tatum under arrest, by placing his hands behind his back, checking for fit and double locking. He was placed in the rear of my patrol unit and transported to the Gilmer County Detention Center and turned over to detention staff without incident.
[End of Narrative]