Court documents shed light on missing persons case

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has uncovered court documents that shed light on a mysterious missing-persons case that police believe could be a murder.

A Gwinnett County couple is fighting efforts to be questioned in front of a grand jury about the whereabouts of Samuel Waters.

The 21-year-old Lawrenceville man disappeared Jan. 4 after heading to a store near his Lawrenceville home.  His family says he was last known to have been with a man who he'd been in arguments with in the past. That man reportedly told police he gave Waters a ride in his car but that Waters asked to be let out and he was.

Now relatives of the man, Matthew and Natalie Moulder, have filed motions to quash paperwork in Gwinnett County, accusing police and district attorney's investigators of  going on a fishing expedition.

Matthew Moulder says authorities are bullying him and his wife into testifying against a family member.

The Moulders say as authorities focus in on Matthew's brother, they have tried to get Matthew to modify his statement "in order to fit their preconceived scenario."

"They didn't have anything to do with any homicide. They didn't have anything to do with any cover-up," said Matthew Moulder's attorney, Walt Britt.

Channel 2 Action News was airborne with NewsChopper 2 and on the ground when authorities searched a Lake Lanier property on Shadburn Ferry Road on Aug. 6. Hall County records show the property is owned by a member of the Moulder family.  After the search, authorities left with a burn barrel and some of its contents.

Lawrenceville police say test results on the items have not been returned yet.

"My client says basically all he knows that went in there was pine cones and leaves," said Britt. "There have been threats and coercion by the police. There's no evidence."

Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter denies any threats.

"I think they may have more information than they have given us on the circumstances of Samuel Waters' disappearance and where he may be," Porter said.

Waters' relatives say they are just anxiously waiting for a break in the case.

"You can't grieve. You want to hold out hope but you don't want it to be false hope," said his aunt Deborah Layfield.

It will be up to a Gwinnett County judge to determine if the Moulders must comply with the orders to go to the grand jury.

WSBTV