DeKalb County

Her boyfriend was charged in her 2016 murder. Now, there's a new suspect

By Rikki Klaus
By Rikki Klaus

CLARKSON, Ga. — A man accused of murdering his girlfriend two years ago is now out of jail after a shell casing led police to a very different suspect.

Daniel Hall, then 22, was arrested in the 2016 shooting death of Kendra Roberts, 27, in Bibb County. Police say Roberts was found shot to death on the side of the road near Macon.

Hall spent two years accused in jail accused in the murder.

This week, Channel 2's Rikki Klaus has learned that a man arrested days after Roberts' murder in Clarkston has been charged with Roberts murder.

Police arrested Sterling Bell in Clarkston's Milam Park in 2016 for having a loaded gun in a public park. At the time, they did not connect him to Robert's murder, though he was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Bell's gun was taken into storage while he was in jail. He never returned to pick up the weapon.

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Recently, Clarkson police went to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives to shoot about 50 stored guns to see if any shell casings had the unique markings of casings found around crime scenes.

Klaus learned that police were able to link shell casings from Bell's gun to Roberts' murder. Bell was arrested Saturday.

“Most people would think it is petty crime, or a petty offense, but it led to the capture of a potential murderer," Clarkston police Sgt. Jason Elliot said.

Klaus dug into federal documents that say Bell has been treated by Veteran's Affairs and that he has a history of PTSD, homicidal and suicidal thoughts. Bell was charged with firing a gun in Pine Lake in 2015 and for shoplifting this year.

Hall is now out of jail on bond. The D.A.'s office says his case has been postponed indefinitely, but is still under investigation.

Cox Media Group

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