Across the area

Officers seek missing woman

Richmond County sheriff's investigators are searching for an Augusta woman last seen more than a month ago.

Authorities said Deborah Fortunato Dill, 48, was last seen at her home at 2300 Woodbine Drive at 4:30 p.m. March 24.

Ms. Dill is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information about Ms. Dill should contact Investigator Paul Evans or any Richmond County Sheriff's Office violent crimes investigator at (706) 821-1080 or (706) 821-1020.

Death penalty sought in McDuffie County

THOMSON - Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against a McDuffie County man charged in a 2004 slaying.

During a preliminary hearing in McDuffie County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon, Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney Dennis Sanders said the state would seek the death penalty in the case of Danny Lee Samuels, who is charged with murder in the slaying of Barbara Hefner.

Ms. Hefner's body was found in Folly Lake off Interstate 20 on March 6, 2004. Mr. Samuels was arrested in connection with the death two weeks later.

Thursday's hearing was to run through procedural checklists and ensure that the defense team was qualified to try the case.

It will be McDuffie County's first death penalty trial in a quarter-century.

In November 1981, Hill Rivers was convicted of killing three Dearing residents. He was later sentenced to death.

Boxer reports necklace taken from hotel room

An Augusta man told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that someone took a necklace valued at $650 from his hotel room April 21.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, Rayonta L. Whitfield, 24, told deputies his 18-carat, diamond cut, 20-inch gold chain necklace, with a gold boxing glove charm, was taken from his bed in a room at the Augusta Towers Hotel in the 2600 block of Perimeter Parkway.

Mr. Whitfield said the necklace was taken between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. There were no signs of forced entry, the report states.

Brown Boulevard will be closed for work

The southbound lanes of James Brown Boulevard from Greene to Telfair streets will be closed from 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Augusta Department of Engineering.

Georgia Power will replace an underground transformer.

Drivers can use 10th or Eighth streets.

Hephzibah freshman brings knife to school

A Hephzibah High School freshman admitted bringing a butcher knife to school to protect herself, according to a Richmond County school tribunal report.

The 14-year-old told the tribunal that she brought the knife with the 7-inch blade to school March 15 to defend herself, but that she had no intention of using it. A group of classmates had threatened to attack the student, who walks home alone from her bus stop.

The school's police officer was surprised to find the butcher knife in her bookbag.

The tribunal found the student guilty of bringing a weapon to school and assigned her to the Alternative Center for the remainder of the school year.

Townhouse's resident was man killed in fire

Richmond County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen said Thursday that officials have identified the man killed during a house fire in west Augusta on Wednesday.

Officials used dental records to identify Thomas Miller, a retired lieutenant colonel who lived alone in a townhouse in the 700 block of Legacy Court, he said.

Mr. Bowen said autopsy results from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab concluded Mr. Miller died from inhaling soot, smoke and super-heated gas.

Lt. G.B. Hannan of the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department said Wednesday that the fire started in the bedroom and appeared to be accidental.

Mr. Miller had attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose but was overcome by the smoke, Mr. Bowen said.

Augusta mayor to run in race for Arbor Day

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver says he'll be among the participants in the Arbor Day 5K Run/Walk, one of the events scheduled for the National Arbor Day observance Saturday at Pendleton King Park, 1600 Troupe St.

The run/walk will start at 9 a.m., with other activities, including a tree planting, animal presentation by Savannah River Ecology Laboratory's Tony Mills, a "Trees of Pendleton" walk, and crafts for kids, starting at 10 a.m.

Those who wish to enter the run/walk may pre-register online at www.active.com. On-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, call (706) 821-1670.

Memory screenings offered in Martinez

Free memory screenings will be offered today at Elmcroft of Martinez, 515 The Pass.

Dr. Suzanne Smith, the director of the Memory Disorder Clinic at the Medical College of Georgia, and Dr. Shirley Poduslo, the professor of neurology and molecular medicine and genetics at MCG, will conduct the screenings, sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association - Augusta Regional Office.

The screenings are confidential. For more information, call (706) 731-9060.

Aiken teens arrested in disorderly conduct

Three Aiken teenagers were taken into police custody Wednesday on disorderly conduct and other charges.

Officers from the Aiken Department of Public Safety were called to an apartment in the 1400 block of Lyon Drive Southeast in Aiken after neighbors reported several intoxicated teens.

Jimmy Lee Griffin, 17, of the 3500 block of Storm Branch Road, was identified as charging at a neighbor who told the group to be quiet. He was charged with disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia,

A 16-year-old boy began cursing at the officers, according to the report. He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and released to his parents.

A third boy, 14, was charged with disorderly conduct gross intoxication and was released to his mother.

- From staff reports