Suspect, victim identified in Gainesville hotel murder | Crime

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- A former missing person has now become a suspect in a Gainesville hotel murder.

The crime happened Saturday at Sun Suites in the 1100 block of SW Jesse Jewell Parkway. According to the Gainesville Police Department, 52-year-old Harmon Lavender of Augusta died from multiple stab wounds. A hotel employee found the body inside a second floor room. The investigation was turned over to the GBI.

Authorities began searching for 29-year-old Jose Antonio Garcia-Flores, as they believed he was somehow connected to the case. Over the course of the investigation, he became the prime suspect in the case. Garcia-Flores was located in New York.

Gainesville Police Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said U.S. Marshals brought Garcia-Flores back to Georgia. He has been charged with one count of malice murder in Lavender's death.