WALTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Walton County authorities have charged a 57-year-old man with concealing a death in the case of a Gwinnett County teen missing for nearly eight years.
Justin Gaines disappeared in November 2007 after a night out at Wild Bill's nightclub in Duluth, Ga. He was 18.
Over the years, authorities have received several tips, but none have panned out. A recent search of three wells in Walton County turned up nothing. In that case, Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway said that an inmate allegedly lied to authorities and misled them. Conway did indicate that authorities knew who was behind the disappearance.
Conway said he did receive additional tips from others during that time -- tips that pointed to a possible accomplice in Gaines' disappearance.
On Sept. 3, a warrant was sent out for the arrest of Martin Wilkie. He was charged with concealing the death of another in the case of Gaines, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office. Investigators with the Walton County Sheriff's Office and Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office said they received numerous tips that Wilkes knew about the disappearance of Gaines.
According to the arrest warrant, Dustin Dylan Glass told authorities that he and Wilkie "actively participated in the assault" of Gaines, "which ultimately led to [Gaines] being shot to death."
Glass' mother stated that she assisted Wilkie in transported Gaines' body "in a black metal toolbox" to High Shoals in Walton County.
Wilke turned himself into authorities and posted $10,000 bond. He is now out on bond, while investigators continue to try to prove who else may have been involved, and to try to find Justin Gaines.
Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter says Gwinnett Police already looked at Wilkie, interviewing him twice, as well as several others. And, for reasons Porter would not discuss, Gwinnett County declined to arrest Wilkie, but now, Walton County has arrested him. The case remains very much open and active.
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