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Man Charged with Murder After Missing Wife's Body Found Near Burned SUV in Georgia
“It was clear that foul play was evident in the disappearance of Imani,” Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett said of the search of Imani Roberson's home, adding that blood was found.
A Georgia man and his brother have been charged after his missing wife turned up dead near her torched vehicle.
Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett revealed in a press conference Saturday that Donnell Anderson was taken into custody in connection to the murder and disappearance of his wife, Imani Roberson. His brother, Cedarius Glaze, was also arrested.
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Anderson was charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon in commission of a crime. Glaze allegedly “played a key role in the disposal of Ms. Roberson’s body," according to the sheriff’s office, and was charged with tampering with evidence, concealment of a dead body and arson.
Roberson was last seen by her family on July 16 as she was leaving her mother’s house on Plantation Blvd. in Conyers, a suburb of Atlanta, with two of her children, a 3-year-old and a 1-month-old, after dinner. According to police, her two older kids stayed with their grandmother.
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office stated on July 25 that Roberson and her white Mazda SUV were seen for a final time at 2285 Metropolitan Parkway SW in Atlanta later on July 16.
Roberson’s mother visited her daughter’s home the next day after becoming concerned when her daughter never called her to check on the children, Levett said at the press conference. Finding no one at the residence, the mother called the police to report her daughter missing.
“When I couldn’t reach Imani almost three weeks ago, I knew something was wrong,” Roberson’s mom said at the press conference.
Authorities opened an investigation, talking to friends and relatives and searching locations that Roberson frequented, including her residence.
“It was clear that foul play was evident in the disappearance of Imani,” Levett said of the search of her home, adding that investigators found blood.
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On July 27, police found Roberson’s charred SUV in an isolated area nearly 30 miles away from her home, NBC affiliate WXIA-TV reported.
Levett said they found Roberson’s body in South Fulton the next morning, near the burned SUV, with the help of cadaver dogs. Tattoos and photos of the woman provided by the family helped investigators identify the body as belonging to Roberson. Evidence led police to secure warrants for the arrest of Anderson, whom police found at an apartment in Atlanta.
Roberson’s mother said on Saturday that her family is devastated after her "worst fears were confirmed."
"It’s not the news that we wanted but I’m happy that we can hold them accountable,” the victim’s father said through tears.
On Sunday, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office announced a candlelight vigil was to be held on Monday, August 7.
“On behalf of Imani Roberson’s Family, we would like to invite the community to a Candlelight Vigil honoring her memory,” the post read. “They are asking that people bring candles and purple or white balloons.”
