Ga. man who found family slain in mobile home granted bond after arrest on drug, other counts

Ga. man arrested after family killed granted bond

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A Georgia man who reported “My whole family’s dead!” in a frantic 911 call, then was arrested on charges of evidence tampering, lying to police and drug possession, was granted bond Wednesday in his first court appearance.

Guy Heinze Jr., 22, was taken into custody hours after police Saturday found the bodies of seven people inside the family’s mobile home. An eighth person later died at a hospital and the lone survivor, a young child, remains in critical condition.

Police have released little information on the killings, including the cause of death, saying they do not want to jeopardize the investigation. A recording of the 12-minute 911 call has provided some of the only details of the crime. Heinze told the 911 operator his family members appeared to have been beaten to death.

Police have not called Heinze a suspect in the case, although the police chief said Sunday that he hadn’t been ruled out either.

On Wednesday, Heinze made a brief court appearance wearing a blue jail uniform, his hands folded behind his back. He looked straight ahead during the hearing and nodded slightly as the judge explained the terms of his $20,000 bond.

Under the judge’s order, Heinze will be placed under house arrest with an ankle monitor once he makes bond. It was uncertain where Heinze would serve his house arrest since he was living at the mobile home where his relatives died.

Ashley Strickland, a friend who attended high school with Heinze, was at the court hearing.

“Knowing his whole family died, if he knew who did it, he would say something,” Strickland said. “Guy’s very sweet. Guy does not deserve this. His whole family did not deserve this, not at all.”

Strickland added she was frustrated with police for not releasing more information.

“We don’t know what to do. There’s a killer out there, a mass murderer,” Strickland said.

Those killed were Heinze’s father Guy Heinze Sr., 45 and uncle Rusty Toler Sr., 44. Also among the dead were Toler Sr.’s sister Brenda Gail Falagan, 49, and Toler Sr.’s four children — Chrissy Toler, 22; Russell D. Toler Jr., 20; Michael Toler, 19; and Michelle Toler, 15. Chrissy Toler’s boyfriend, Joseph L. West, 30, was also killed.

Family friends have said Chrissy Toler’s young child is the sole survivor.

Heinze Jr.’s attorney has said his client is distraught over the slayings and was not involved.

“My client believes the killer is still on the loose,” attorney Ron Harrison said Tuesday, adding Heinze Jr. has been cooperating with police.

A graveside service was tentatively set for the Tolers, Heinze Sr. and Falagan on Saturday, according to the Howard-Jones-Nobles Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements for West were pending.

The Toler family has set up a fund to help pay for burial costs, according to Clint Rowe, an uncle to the Toler children. The family planned to allow photos of the seven caskets in an effort to compel the killer or killers to come forward.

“We want the culprit to know what kind of massive impact it’s had on the family, the community,” said Rowe, adding the family was still struggling to cope with the slayings. “What can you imagine it would be like to lose seven members of your family in one night?”

Associated Press writer Greg Bluestein in Atlanta contributed to this report.