NEWNAN, Ga. — A Coweta County man is in jail after evading deputies for nearly a week.
30-year-old James Townsend ran after the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office said a car hit and killed his girlfriend, 42-year-old Candace Sabot, while they were walking on Hammock Road in Newnan on January 31.
“The car went around the car in front of it to pass, and that’s when the car hit her,” said Nicole Williams, who’s Sabot’s older sister.
According to Georgia State Patrol, a 28-year-old man was driving around 11 p.m. The driver said the car in front of him was driving slowly, so he passed them even though there was a double yellow line.
A passenger in the 28-year-old’s car was one of several calls to 911.
The caller said, “There were two guys walking in the dark in the road and we didn’t see them, and my boyfriend hit one of them.”
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While neighbors, the driver, and first responders were helping Sabot, Coweta County deputies said Townsend left her and ran.
He came upon a house where deputies said he flashed a gun at a homeowner, and the homeowner shot back but did not hit Townsend.
Deputies said Townsend had an outstanding probation violation out of Douglas County at the time.
Deputies finally arrested Townsend on Thursday and booked him into jail Friday.
Sabot’s family is happy to see the arrest.
“Ever since I found out he was arrested, I had a little sleep last night, and yeah I’m still grieving my sister, but I feel a lot better now knowing he’s going to have to answer for something,” Williams said.
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Williams said she was 13 months older than Sabot, so the two were very close growing up. She said her sister is a mother of five who would do anything for her family.
She said her family has been devastated by the news and trying to make sense of what happened.
“You don’t leave anyone there to die by themselves, especially if you say you love them,” Williams said.
There is also that crash investigation. Georgia state patrol cited the 28-year-old driver for illegally passing another car. They said more charges will be coming once the investigation is finished.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the family in the wake of Sabot’s sudden death.
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