28-YEAR COLD CASE MURDER ARREST MADE IN CHRISTY MYERS CASE
COFFEE COUNTY, GA | After 28 years without answers, an arrest has been made in the 1998 murder of Christy Myers.
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Coffee County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 47-year-old James Lawrence III in connection with Myers' death.
Myers lived in Broxton, Georgia, with her husband and young child. On the evening of September 14, 1998, Myers left her residence to go to a store in Broxton. Multiple witnesses reported seeing and speaking with Myers at the store before she left alone in her vehicle.
Shortly after midnight on September 15, 1998, Myers was found deceased outside her vehicle along the Broxton-Fitzgerald Highway, just outside Broxton.
The preliminary investigation determined that nearby residents heard a conversation followed by the sound of a vehicle accelerating. A citizen went to investigate the disturbance and discovered Myers deceased.
For nearly three decades, investigators continued working to identify the person responsible for Myers' death.
In the early morning hours of October 1, 2026, GBI agents, along with members of the Coffee County Sheriff's Office and Irwin County Sheriff's Office, executed an arrest warrant for Lawrence at a residence in Irwin County. Lawrence was taken into custody without incident.
Following his arrest, Lawrence was transported to Coffee County by Sheriff Fred Cole and remains in the Coffee County Jail awaiting adjudication.
The arrest marks another significant development in Coffee County's ongoing effort to bring resolution to long-standing cold cases. Since taking office, Sheriff Fred Cole has made the pursuit of justice for victims and their families a priority, including cases that have remained unresolved for decades.
This arrest represents the second arrest this year in a Coffee County cold case that remained open for more than 20 years and the third cold case arrest under Sheriff Cole's administration.
The Coffee County Sheriff's Office recognizes the critical role of interagency cooperation in advancing cold case investigations. The continued partnership between the Coffee County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been instrumental in developing new leads and pursuing justice in cases that have remained unresolved for years.
"These cases do not have an expiration date," said Sheriff Fred Cole. "We are grateful for the efforts, time and dedication the GBI puts forth in working these cases. The man hours and commitment required to bring justice to the families we serve cannot be overstated. We couldn't solve these cases without their diligent effort."
A press conference was held Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Coffee County Sheriff's Office. GBI Director Chris Hosey and Special Agent in Charge Jessica Hamilton were among those who addressed the media, along with the District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit. Speakers emphasized the continued commitment to pursuing justice for victims and their families in unresolved cases.
Sheriff Cole also reiterated his commitment to holding offenders accountable.
"If you committed a crime in Coffee County, it may take some time, but you will be caught," said Sheriff Cole.
The arrest of Lawrence is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until convicted by a court of law.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.