Fannin Jury returns verdict in Ensley Murder Trial

Grant Murphy Ensley was found guilty by a Fannin County jury of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Two Counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and the Unlawful Handling of Explosive Devices. Judge Fred Bishop, a Senior Superior Court Judge from Gwinnett County sentenced Ensley to Life in Prison after the jury’s verdict was returned on Monday afternoon, May 23, 2011.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Grant Murphy Ensley on October 5, 2009, on an explosives charge following a 911 call he made from the Ensley residence. GBI Agent Matt Howard obtained additional warrants for Ensley on October 8, 2009 for the murder of his father, Lynn Ensley. The Fannin County Grand Jury later indicted Grant Ensley for Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Unlawful handling of Explosive Devices.

Following a week of testimony from the state’s 25 witnesses, and review of the 194 exhibits entered into evidence, the jury was charged shortly after 12:00 noon on Monday, May 23, 2011 and returned with a verdict after about 2 hours of deliberation.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office by Assistant District Attorney Jodi Spiegel. The Defendant was represented by James C. Wyatt from the Public Defender’s Office in Rome, Georgia and R. Scott Kiker of Blue Ridge.

“It took a significant amount of hard work to put together what was a difficult and complicated case. Thanks to the dedication of GBI agents sheriff’s personnel and prosecutors Lynn Ensley’s murderer has been brought to justice,” commented Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Hendricks.

The defendant will not be eligible for parole for 30 years.