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Last updated October 4, 2022 @ 12:02 PM ET
The following was taken from a press release distributed by the Dalton Police Department:
The Dalton Police Department has upgraded the charges against 44-year old Justin Pippen to include homicide after a September 29th domestic violence incident that has now left a Dalton woman dead.
40-year old Rachael Schaefer of 905 Liddell Street in Dalton passed away from her injuries on Monday morning while hospitalized at Hamilton Medical Center.
Police were dispatched to 905 Liddell Street #4 at approximately 8:30 am on September 29th to a report of a woman who was not breathing. Rachael Schaefer and Justin Pippen live together at the residence.
When officers arrived, they found Schaefer unresponsive suffering from unknown injuries. Officers and EMS rendered aid and Schaefer was taken to Hamilton Medical Center for treatment. Once at the hospital, it was determined that Schaefer’s injuries appeared to have been from being beaten.
Justin Pippen was on scene at the residence and had made the 911 call for medical assistance. After an investigation determined that Pippen was responsible for Schaefer’s injuries, Pippen was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and aggravated sexual battery. Pippen was taken to the Whitfield County Jail where he remains in custody.
Schaefer passed away from her injuries Monday morning. After her death, investigators sought a homicide warrant for Pippen and that warrant was granted on Monday afternoon.
This incident is still being investigated.
[End of Press Release]
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The press release spells the suspect’s last name as Pippen, but the jail staff spelled it Pippin.]