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September 2, 2010
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Ewing murder suspects face death
Published October 23, 2009
MONROE — The three Monroe men accused in the murder of a 65-year-old woman during a home invasion in Loganville May 21 will face the death penalty.
Epsie Ewing died June 23 as a result of the injuries she sustained during the alleged attack.
The three accused men appeared separately in the Walton County Magistrate Court Wednesday as Assistant District Attorney David Boyle read the charges announcing the DA’s intention to seek the death penalty in each case. Superior Court Judge Eugene Benton allowed any further proceedings to be continued until 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2 to allow the men to seek additional counsel as the law requires in the case of a death penalty trial. Under Georgia law, defendants facing the death penalty require the representation of at least two attorneys, either hired or appointed by the state.
Cory Butler, 28, John Blackwell Jr., 18, and Barry Marquez Partee, 18, each sat quietly as the attorneys asked for time to appoint an additional public defender in the case of Butler, an additional attorney in the case of Blackwell and new council for Partee — since his attorney was withdrawing from the case. A determination still has to be made as to whether Partee qualifies for public defender representation.
The three men face charges of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of false imprisonment, armed robbery, burglary and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. Butler faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
It is alleged the three went to the house of Epsie and C.F. Ewing on the pretext of wanting to buy C.F.’s truck the day of the attack. Butler had allegedly been there the week before with another woman to get money from C.F., reportedly for a child that resulted from a relationship between C.F. and the woman. Police, however, have said they found no evidence a child ever existed, although C.F. did admit to the relationship. It is alleged when Butler and the other two returned the day of the attack, they forced C.F. into the house at gunpoint, beating both he and his wife. C.F.’s injuries were not as severe but his wife was life-flighted to Atlanta Medical Center where she died the following month. All three suspects were identified and in custody within a week of the alleged attack.
Although C.F. was not present, Epsie’s family were in the courtroom Wednesday to hear the death penalty announcement and said they were pleased with the DA’s decision.
“We are very comfortable with it,” said Faye Evans, a sister of Epsie. “We glad it is happening.”
Evans said they were looking forward to the trial, which is not expected to take place for the next 12 to 18 months, to find out exactly what happened to their sister the day of the attack. The parents of Partee and Blackwell said they too were hoping the trial would result in the truth coming out, whatever it turns out to be.
“I don’t believe my son did this, but I can only put it in hands of the defense attorneys and in God’s hands now,” John Blackwell Sr. said. “All we can really do is finance the defense and leave it up to God. We just want the truth.”
Blackwell and Fredia and Barry Partee Sr. said they not only pray for their children, but also for the Ewing family.
“We can only pray and ask God to lead and guide us through this,” Fredia Partee said.
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