NEWS RELEASE

April 27, 2016

In reference to the April 26 assault on Mayra Espitia, three suspects have

been taken into custody in Rome. During the investigation officers were able to
develop and verify some evidence that identified the subject that did the actual
stabbing as David Wayne Williams, age 47. Williams last known address is in Walton
County, GA. Investigators were able to determine that Williams was in the Rome
Georgia area approximately one hour after Mrs. Espitia had been stabbed. Evidence
was presented to a Magistrate Judge late yesterday afternoon and a warrant was
issued for Williams on the charge of Aggravated Battery and Armed Robbery.
Investigators from the Whitfield County Sheriffs Office contacted the US Marshals
Service and Rome authorities, and requested assistance in locating Williams.
On April 27, 2016, the Agents from the Marshal Service were searching the
residence of Donna Warren (a known associate of Williams) on Baker Drive in Rome
when they observed a vehicle fitting the description of a vehicle known to be driven
by Warren pull into a driveway close by and saw a male subject jump out and start
running. The officers gave chase but were unable to locate the male subject. The
female in the car was identified as Donna Warren. The car the two subjects were in
is believed to be the car that brought Williams to the Espitia residence. Detectives
and Evidence Technicians from Whitfield County Sheriffs Office traveled to Rome
and obtained a search warrant on the Baker Drive residence and executed it on April
27. During the search, evidence was located indicating Donna Warren was the
female that transported Williams to the residence on Serena way. Donna Warren
was arrested and charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony (Armed
Robbery and Aggravated Battery). Later in the evening David Wayne Williams was
located in the area where he had fled from authorities earlier in the day, he was
taken into custody. During the investigation detectives uncovered evidence that the
brother of Donna Williams (Jerry Wade Warren), also played a part in the incident.
Jerry Wade Warren, age 48, of 11 Baker Drive, was taken into custody and also
charged with 2-counts of Conspiracy to Commit a felony.
All three suspects have been transported back to Dalton and are being held
in the Whitfield County Jail without bond. The stolen GMC Sonoma pick-up has not
been located at this time. However; during the investigation today Rome authorities
found another vehicle Williams had sold to a Rome resident that had been reported
stolen out of Walton County, Georgia. Some documents from our stolen Sonoma
were also recovered from Williams.
Sheriff Scott Chitwood