Reward grows in Ga. couple's kidnapping, murder
ATLANTA — Police are hoping an increased $20,000 reward will bring them closer to making arrests in the kidnapping and murder of a DeKalb County couple.
Captain Paul Guerrucci said he believes ransom was the motive for the kidnapping.
"We would like to reach out to the public or anyone who may have information on this case that would help us," he said.
Guerrucci said police still have viable leads that they are following up on.
Jeronta Brown, 24, and his girlfriend Briana Brooks, 21, were kidnapped Aug. 30 outside Brown's mother's home. At least two suspects came to Kawana Brown's door claiming they were FBI agents. The suspects grabbed Jeronta Brown and Brooks, handcuffed them and threw them into a vehicle that sped off.
Kawana Brown said a family member got a call shortly after the kidnappers took off, demanding $150,000.
By daybreak, a driver 17 miles away in northwest Atlanta spotted Brooks and Jeronta Brown lying in the street. Both had been shot in the head.
Brown was dead. Brooks, seven months pregnant with the couple's second child, was alive. Doctors were able to deliver the baby girl by C-section. After the birth Briana was taken off life support.
Brown's mother thanked friends and family who came up with the money for the reward, which originally stood at $15,000 shortly after the murders.
"Somebody really does know something about it," she said.
Kawana Brown was one of the last people to talk to her son, when the kidnappers made him call her and ask for ransom money.
"I talked to him, he said mom, they are not playing, that's what he told me, he said mom, they are not playing," she said.
Guerrucci made it clear that anybody involved in the case will be prosecuted.
"We feel that there were multiple people involved which means even more people know what's going on," Guerrucci said.
Police won't say if the couples kidnapping is related to a similar incident involving a woman in East Atlanta last week. She was kidnapped by men who identified themselves as law enforcement but was later released.