East Georgia murder victim's wife found dead in Columbus - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Woman found dead at Columbus gas station before taking lie detector test

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By Curtis McCloud - bio | email
Investigators told us Brenda Dent and her male friend, Bernard Lamountain, were in Columbus to take a polygraph test at the GBI crime lab in relation to the murder of her husband, Fermer "Butch" Dent. Investigators told us Brenda Dent and her male friend, Bernard Lamountain, were in Columbus to take a polygraph test at the GBI crime lab in relation to the murder of her husband, Fermer "Butch" Dent.
Fermer "Butch" Dent (Source: Beggs Funeral Home) Fermer "Butch" Dent (Source: Beggs Funeral Home)
COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -

Authorities confirmed to News Leader 9 an east Georgia woman was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Chevron gas station in Columbus on Beaver Run Road, near Macon Road Thursday.  

The woman, Brenda Dent, was a person of interest in the recent murder of her husband in Wilkes County, GA.

Investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said moments before Brenda Dent's death, she revealed to a witness in the investigation that she was responsible for Fermer "Butch" Dent's murder. His body was found Sunday in Wilkes County.

Wilkes County Sheriff Mark Moore told News Leader 9 that Brenda Dent told authorities that she was out of town when her home was burglarized and her husband was shot to death.  He said themurder scene was not consistent with a burglary. 

Brenda Dent and her male friend, Bernard Lamountain, were in Columbus to take a polygraph test at the GBI crime lab in relation to her husband's murder. 

Witnesses say Brenda Dent's pickup truck was found near the car wash around 12:15 p.m. Thursday. She was slumped over the wheel and the engine was still running. 

A release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Brenda Dent died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The GBI say that she took her own life after telling a witness that she was in fact responsible for the murder of her husband.

Butch Dent's murder remains under investigation by authorities in Wilkes County. The Athens Banner-Herald reports Butch Dent's death was the first homicide in the county in more than 10 years. 

The Columbus Police Department will continue to investigate Brenda Dent's death. Her body will be examined by the state crime lab in Decatur. 

News Leader 9 will continue to follow this story. We'll have the latest information as soon as it becomes available.

Copyright 2012 WTVM. All rights reserved.

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