Guilty Plea in Death of Demetria Hill, Assault on Chinella Ross

Joseph Brown Sentenced to 30 Years in 2001 Killing of Teenager

Atlanta—Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his guilty pleas, Joseph Brown (35) has been sentenced to 30 years—25 of which are to be served in prison—for the 3 December 2001 death of Demetria Hill (19) as well as the 29 June 2003 assault on Chinella Ross (32). Brown pleaded guilty to aggravated assault (two counts) and kidnapping. Ms. Hill’s skeletal remains were found in a wooded area behind a church on Cascade Road in September of 2002. Her body had been dismembered and burned and a cause of death was unable to be determined. Ms. Hill was last seen with Brown on the day of her disappearance when she and a friend met him at a service station on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and agreed to go for a ride in his car. The friend later went home, leaving Ms. Hill with Brown. She was never heard from again.

In the 2003 incident, Brown became incensed at Ms. Ross, his girlfriend, because he suspected she had been in contact with the father of her child. While driving along Buffington Road in south Fulton County, he began choking her until she jumped out of the car. He then stopped and forced her back in to the car, and they returned home. Once he left the residence, she called the police.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Brett Pinion prosecuted the case. Fulton County Police Detective J. Phillips, along with Investigator Gigi Carawan of the District Attorney’s Office, investigated. Judge Michael Johnson presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404.224.0560 (office); 770.583.6069 (pager); erik.friedly@co.fulton.ga.us