Second mistrial declared in case of man accused of killing friend, dumping body in Gwinnett park

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a man accused of killing his best friend in Gwinnett County for the second time.

Tori Lang, 18, was found dead in a Gwinnett County park two years ago. Not long after, DeKalb County police recovered her burned-out car discovered not far from the park.

After many months of investigation, police finally charged her “best friend,” Austin Ford, with murder and assault.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Earlier this year, a jury could not come to a unanimous verdict on the murder charge and a mistrial was declared.

Channel 2′s Michael Doudna was in the courtroom on Friday afternoon as the second trial also ended in a mistrial.

The jury began deliberating on 3 p.m. on Thursday. Doudna was told early Friday afternoon that the jury had been stuck at an eight to four decision since getting the case.

Jurors watched an hour-long video of police interviewing Ford and then requested to see a model gun that was used as a prop in court.

RELATED STORIES:

• Second trial begins for man accused of killing Gwinnett teen, dumping her body in park
• Mistrial declared in case of man accused of killing teen, dumping her body in Gwinnett park
• Jury selection for man accused of killing teen, dumping body in Gwinnett park begins this week
• Man accused of killing teen found in Gwinnett park indicted
• Woman found dead in park identified as 18-year-old from Lithonia

Ford’s defense attorneys claim that Lang’s death was a suicide. They admit that Ford lied to police, but that does not make him guilty of murder.

Prosecutors will decide next week if they will try Ford for the murder for a third time.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Jury deliberating fate of man accused of killing best friend, dumping body in Gwinnett park

©2023 Cox Media Group