SOPERTON, Ga. — A violent and disturbing series of events that unfolded across three southeast Georgia counties has led to the arrest of three individuals now facing a growing list of serious criminal charges.
🔍 What Happened?
On May 28, a victim reported being attacked at a residence on Tarrytown Road in Soperton (Treutlen County). The Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office requested help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) shortly after the report was made.
Investigators say:
- Dean Tanner (30, Tarrytown), Lauren Bailey (43, Vidalia), and Jeff Sconyers (51, Vidalia) initially assaulted the victim in Treutlen County.
- The trio then allegedly kidnapped the victim and transported him to a home on Pine Street in Vidalia (Toombs County), where he was beaten unconscious.
- The motive: They were allegedly searching for items they believed had been stolen from a warehouse owned by Bailey.
- Finally, the suspects took the victim to a wooded area in Ailey (Montgomery County), where he was reportedly sexually assaulted.
🚔 Arrests and Charges
All three suspects were arrested on May 29 and initially charged in Treutlen County with kidnapping and aggravated assault.
As of June 9, the GBI announced new charges in Toombs County:
- Aggravated assault
- Aggravated battery
- Burglary
- False imprisonment
In addition, Dean Tanner now faces an aggravated battery charge in Treutlen County, and more charges are expected in Montgomery County, where the sexual assault reportedly occurred.
The suspects are currently being held in the Treutlen County Jail.
🧑⚖️ What’s Next?
Once the GBI completes its investigation, the case will be reviewed by prosecutors from the:
- Dublin Judicial Circuit
- Middle Judicial Circuit
- Oconee Judicial Circuit
This is a developing story, and additional updates are expected as the legal process unfolds.
