EAST POINT MAN GETS LIFE FOR STRANGULATION DEATH OF FIANCEE’

Atlanta- A Fulton County jury has returned a guilty verdict in the murder case of 58-year old Eugene Neal. Neal was convicted of Murder, Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault in the death of his fiancee’ Dorothy Driskell, 44.

Driskell was found dead in the defendant’s East Point home on August 17, 2006. The defendant claimed the victim had become belligerent during an argument and bit him on the arm. He said he was simply trying to restrain her in self-defense. The investigation revealed Neal held Ms. Driskell in a choke-hold eventually strangling her. He had his son call 911 and was attempting CPR on the victim when paramedics arrived. Neal told authorities three different versions of what happened that night. Evidence showed that Neal had been abusive to his ex-wife and once tried to choke her. Neal was sentenced to life in prison.

Superior Court Judge John J. Goger presided over the case. It was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Lawanda Hodges with assistance from Investigators David White and Michael Green of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit. East Point Police lead the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov