4 suspects arrested in 2013 murders of 3 Montgomery residents
Keante Harris/Source: Jefferson County Jail
A 2013 cold case now has some answers.
Four suspects have been arrested and charged in the murders of 3 Montgomery residents whose bodies were found along a Georgia interstate more than 10 years ago.
On January 13, 2013, officers with the Union City Police Departments were on general patrol on I-85 in Fulton County when they noticed a 2010 Dodge Charger that appeared to be abandoned.
Upon inspection, officers located 3 bodies in the vehicle. It was determined through the investigation that all three victims were tortured and murdered in Clayton County and dumped in Fulton County.
Police later identified the victims as Cheryl Colquitt-Thompson, Quinones King and Rodney Cottrell. All three victims were from Montgomery.
Authorities say the victims were lured to a residence on Magnolia Drive in Jonesboro where they were forced into the residence at gunpoint. Later, they were loaded into the back seat of a Dodge Charger and taken to Fulton County.
More than 11 years later, the case now has some answers. Chief Kevin Robert, the head of Clayton County Police Department and his team of investigators were able to crack the case and provide Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley with information to successfully get murder indictments from the grand jury.
The four suspects have been identified Kenneth Thompson, Kevin Harris, Darrell Harris and Keante Harris. All four suspects have been each charged with three counts of malice murder.
Jefferson County Schools confirmed to Action 8 News that Keante Harris is an assistant principal at McAdory Middle School. According to Harris’ LinkedIn page, he was the Special Education Teacher with Montgomery Public Schools from 2006-2016.
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin provided this statement to Action 8 News:
“We have been made aware that Mr. Keante Harris was arrested Wednesday afternoon,” said Dr. Gonsoulin. “At this time we still are gathering facts about the specifics of this situation. However, early indications are that the charges are not related to this individual’s employment with Jefferson County Schools. Per standard procedure, Mr. Harris has been placed on paid administrative leave. As more facts become available, we will act according to our district’s policy.”
Keante Harris is currently in the Jefferson County Jail, while the other suspects are in custody in Georgia and South Carolina awaiting extradition back to Clayton County.
