Trump mentions Georgia killing in wall speech

During Tuesdaynight’s speech to the nation, President Donald Trump cited details of a recent Clayton County homicide — a gruesome killing involving dismemberment — in making his case for constructing a wall along the southern U.S. border.

The man charged with murder in the November case, Christian Ponce-Martinez, had moved to Morrow three months before allegedly killing one of his neighbors, Robert Page, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.

According to the White House, Ponce-Martinez was in the U.S. illegally from Mexico.

“Day after day, precious lives are cut short by those who have violated our borders. In California, an Air Force veteran was raped, murdered and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history,” Trump said. “In Georgia, an illegal alien was recently charged with murder for killing, beheading and dismembering his neighbor.”

Page, a 76-year-old grandfather, was reported missing in early November by his wife of nearly 50 years. Officers searched the area and found Ponce-Martinez hiding behind his house and acting nervous and suspicious, police said.

A trail of blood led investigators to Page’s remains. He had been dismembered, and part of his body was located in a cooler.

Ponce-Martinez was arrested and charged with malice murder.