PICKENS COUNTY MURDERER GETS LIFE IN PRISON

William Scott Fitts Guilty of Killing His "Call Girl" Girlfriend

Atlanta-Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announces the sentencing of William Scott Fitts of Jasper to life in prison. Fitts pleaded guilty last month to one count of malice murder in the April 28, 2002 shooting death of Lawandra Kinsey of Atlanta. The investigation by the District Attorney's Office and the Atlanta Police Department determined Kinsey was a high-priced call girl, with whom Fitts had become obsessed. The 37 year-old Fitts, described by some witnesses as an alleged member of the notorious Dixie Mafia, had asked Kinsey to relocate to Jasper. She consented, then changed her mind and broke off the relationship. Police say Fitts became angry and shot Kinsey once in the chest inside her apartment at the Park Lane Apartments on Peachtree Road.

After a close friend of Fitts agreed to testify for the prosecution that he was the one who purchased the 9mm CZ100 Fitts used to kill Kinsey… prosecutors recovered those receipts from The Bargain Barn sporting goods store in Pickens County where the gun and ammunition had been purchased. Free on $350,000.00 bond, Fitts failed to appear in court for his June 8, 2004 trial date and Superior Court Judge Thelma Cummings Moore issued a warrant for his arrest

Assistant District Attorney David Cooke says Fitts' family contacted the D-A's Office with an offer to have him turn himself in. They said "he was tired of running". Judge Moore imposed the life sentence Monday.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404-224-0560 (office); 404-533-1381 (pager)