The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marietta man is indicted in double murder
A grand jury has indicted a man who police said shot his mother 17 times in their Marietta townhouse, killing her, before driving to Sandy Springs and stabbing an elementary arts teacher to death in December.
Justin Paul Hess was indicted for murder earlier this month. His arrest came after about a twohour police standoff at the townhouse where authorities said he shot his 61-year-old mother Carol Ann Hess.
Cobb police detective Jonathan Bradley said previously at a probable cause hearing that Hess snapped before the shooting.
“He believed there was something consistent with a New World Order that caused him a lot of stress,” Bradley said. “He believed he was under surveillance, that sort of thing.”
At the time, neighbors told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they heard gunshots, then saw Hess walk out the Marietta home. He told them in a fake British accent that his mother had had “a bit of a fall.” They called the cops.
From there, police said, Hess drove his mother’s Mazda to Extra Space Storage on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. That’s where authorities say he stabbed 53-yearold William Haynes for his car. Haynes was a longtime arts teacher and Alpharetta band leader who’d taught at E. Rivers Elementary School nearly 30 years.
Police said Hess drove Haynes’ red Audi S5 back to the Bridle Path townhouse where he’d supposedly shot his mother.
A neighbor saw Hess return and called 911. The standoff started and ended peacefully soon after.
Hess remains in Cobb County jail without bond.