In the pre-dawn hours of July 20, 2017, a 911 call brought deputies to a location near River Hill Road in Ellijay, Georgia. Officers found 26-year-old Charles Patrick Thurman, known as Patrick, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to assist with the death investigation at about 4:00 AM.

Thurman was a Gilmer High School and Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science graduate who worked as a funeral attendant at Bernhardt Funeral Home and attended Little Baptist Church. Investigators treated the incident as stemming from a domestic dispute and identified another person involved. On July 26, 2017, 27-year-old Brenton Pastuszka of Ellijay was arrested; he faced charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime tied to the inquiry. The investigation was to be submitted to the District Attorney for possible further prosecution.

If anyone knew Charles Patrick Thurman, his movements that night, or has information about the dispute, please come forward.