SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
A Griffin man, 57-year-old Donald Eugene Colquitt, has been convicted in the 2020 murder of Munteshia Brown.
His victim, Munteshia Brown, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest in the parking lot of Macedonia Baptist Church on July 11, 2020.
Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder said Colquitt and Brown had a lengthy history of domestic violence, including a particularly brutal incident in September 2019 when Colquitt stabbed Brown in a Henry County hotel room, placed a mattress over her and left her to die.
“In that incident, he also stole her car, her purse, her phone and her identification. She lived only to be killed by him in Spalding County seven months later,” Broder said.
At the time of Colquitt’s arrest, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said the victim’s cell phone played a significant role in the suspect’s apprehension.
“As the investigation continued, we obtained her phone number and began pinging it since it was not on her when she was found. We were able to track the suspect Colquitt believed to still be in her car, as he crossed Alabama and entered Mississippi,” Dix said in 2020. “We notified the Eupora Mississippi Police Department to a location where we pinged the phone and they were able to locate Ms. Brown’s vehicle and Donald Colquitt at a McDonalds in their city.”
After shooting her, Colquitt stole her car, phone, purse and identification before fleeing the scene.
The defendant testified during his trial and claimed he shot Brown in self-defense.
“The jury rejected this argument with its verdict,” Broder said. “The jury heard testimony over the course of five days. My team brought in witnesses from five different law enforcement departments across three states to testify in this trial. My heartfelt thanks go out to all of the witnesses who testified, and I offer my specific thanks to the lead agency in the case – the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.”
Convicted of felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and theft by taking, Superior Court Judge Scott Ballard sentenced Colquitt to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole on the murder charge, 20 years on the armed robbery charge and another five years for the weapon charge.
Broder and Assistant District Attorney Holly MacDonald prosecuted the case.
“This case is tragic. Munteshia was on a path to redemption, changing her life, and severing ties with the defendant. She was a bright life who was so loved by her family. Because of her devotion to changing her life for the better, the defendant executed her in a church parking lot. Over the course of my career, I have tried too many cases where victims were murdered at hand of their abusers. I take these cases personally. I am tired of these violent deaths, and so are the citizens of Spalding County,” Broder said. “Allow this verdict and sentence to be a message to those perpetrating domestic violence in my Circuit. I will use whatever resources necessary to ensure that you pay for your crimes. If you or someone you know is suffering in a domestic violence relationship, please seek help. It could literally save a life.”
If you or someone you know is a domestic violence victim, reach out for help.
Information and comprehensive services are available locally from Promise Place. The crisis line can be reached at 770.460.1604; the Griffin office at 770.692.3333; the Pike County office at 770.567.3447; and the Upson County office at 770.692.3345.
You may also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.7233.
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