Columbus court hears chilling details on woman’s weekend murder

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A man is facing a murder charge in Columbus after a woman was found dead inside a ditch off Flat Rock Road over the weekend.

Bryant Butler, 40, accused of killing 35-year-old Shacoya Baker, was in court today, where he pleaded not guilty.

Law enforcement also shared some evidence from the crime scene that they claim proves Butler is guilty. The lead investigator on the scene today described how Butler was identified as a suspect and eventually taken into custody.

Columbus Police Sergeant Demetrius Battle described the scene when he arrived.

“I responded to the scene and assumed the lead investigator,” Battle. “After observation of the victim, the victim had apparent gunshot wounds to the back of the neck. Police located three shell casings in the roadway and four around the victim.”

Police canvassed the area where Baker was found for video footage from neighbors. In the footage that was obtained from neighbors, police say they could hear an argument then rapid gunfire.

“Police spoke with several neighbors that stated the night before around 11 p.m. they heard two or three shots and minutes later rapid gunfire,” Battle added. “After working on the scene for approximately an hour, police had multiple people respond to the scene that stated that the victim was shot in the head.”

According to police, the family of the victim was on the scene and stated that Butler stayed just 20 yards from where the woman’s body was found.

“The defendant exited the front door of the residence. Police asked the defendant to come to police to speak. The defendant refused and went inside of his house and refused to come out,” the sergeant said in court.

After several hours of trying to get the suspect to come out, a SWAT team arrived and Butler eventually came out of the home.

“Police placed a hold on the residence to come back and do a secondary search on the residence due to the extended hours of the work,” Battle stated. “Yesterday, police conducted a search of the residence and located a firearm in the attic with a 30-round extended mag. Early test fires of the gun indicated that was the gun used during the incident.”

Butler’s case was bound over to superior court and he is being held without bond.