MURDER OF RETIRED DELTA EMPLOYEE YIELDS CONVICTION FOR SECOND DEFENDANT

Killing Duo Receives Life Plus 54 Years

The killers of retired Delta employee Thomas Vinson were sentence to life plus 54 years after being found guilty on all counts in his slaying. During separate trials, jurors found Ronregus Watts (19) and his co-defendant Jarmarvis Dixon (23) guilty on charges of murder, three counts of felony murder, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, financial transaction card theft and two counts of financial transaction card fraud.

Watts was convicted yesterday and Dixon was convicted on April 14, 2008. Senior Judge McConnell withheld sentencing for the first defendant pending the outcome of the second defendant’s trial.

On December 22, 2006, Thomas Vinson (58) was working on a home he owned on Hardin Avenue in College Park when he was accosted by defendants Watts and Dixon in his carport. Vinson was shot and robbed of his wallet and truck. After robbing and killing Vinson, the defendant’s used his Visa credit card to buy cigarettes at a grocery store 45 minutes later. Both defendants were apprehended at the same grocery store four days later while attempting to make additional purchases with the victim’s credit card. After the arrest, one of the defendants confessed to his involvement in the crime.

Thomas Vinson worked at Delta Airlines as a Machinist before retiring. He left behind a wife, two children and three grandchildren. Vinson was known throughout his community for his kindness and generosity. Over 500 people attended his memorial.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Linda Dunikoski of the Major Case Unit. It was investigated by Detective A. D. Redding of the College Park Police Department along with David White of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit.

CONTACT: Shelia Edwards, 404-730-4867/ 404-732-6746; shelia.edwards@fultoncountyga.gov