Sabbing/Kidnapping Suspect Takes Plea Deal

A stabbing and kidnapping suspect from an incident taking place in February took the District Attorney’s plea offer in court on Thursday, September 26, 2013.Earlier this year, Ellis Witherspoon was apprehended after assaulting and stabbing his girlfriend, Jennifer Palmer and kidnapping his two children, ages four years old and one year old. After taking his children, Witherspoon was hiding out in a camper, near Abernathy’s home furniture in McCaysville, GA. After setting fire to the camper, he attempted to flee but was captured by officers that were standing by. The children were unharmed. Palmer spent days in Erlanger hospital, in critical condition but was released.

After attempting to claim to be insane and not recalling the incident, Witherspoon was relocated to prison in Columbus to be monitored 24/7. He remained there for a couple of months but was found to be competent to stand trial and was transferred back to Fannin County Jail. Finally, seven months after the incident, it was time for Witherspoon to face the music.

Fannin County’s District Attorney’s Office offered Witherspoon a plea deal to serve 55 years in exchange for a guilty plea. If he refused this, his trial would begin on Monday, September 30, 2013. With the charges stacked against him, he opted to take the plea deal and serve 55 years.

When reflecting on all that she’s been through in the past seven months, Palmer said

“It’s finally over…he took the plea. Now, maybe, I can get on with my life.”

Palmer also expressed her gratitude to the citizens of Fannin County for helping her pull through this tragedy.