The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported late last week that the man who was serving a life sentence for killing Chattooga County native and Polk County Police Detective Kristen Hearne killed himself on Thanksgiving Day while on suicide watch.

Seth Brandon Spangler had admitted to shooting and killing Hearne in court in order to avoid the death penalty and was given a life sentence.  Both Spangler and Samantha Michelle Roof were charged with killing Hearne as well as shooting officer David Goodrich while the two officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle in September of 2017.

Spangler had a history of mental illness and had been transferred to a medical prison in Augusta.  Spangler’s attorney told the Atlanta paper that he didn’t understand how his client could have killed himself while on suicide watch at the medical prison.

Compiled Reports