Augusta, GA

Augustan convicted of beating mom’s 61-year-old boyfriend to death

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

Augustan convicted of beating mom’s 61-year-old boyfriend to death

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been convicted of beating an older man to death and leaving him to die in 2019, according to District Attorney Jared Williams.

The defendant, Andrez Kirkland, 38, of Augusta, was convicted by a jury of his peers this week after a trial that began March 4 and ended late Monday.

The victim, Gary Stringer, 61, of Augusta, was dating the defendant’s mother and allowed the defendant to move in with him a few months earlier.

The victim had gone out to celebrate his birthday on Jan. 19, 2019.

He returned to his home, an argument ensued, and he told the defendant and his family to leave.

Instead, the defendant viciously beat the victim, shattering his jaw, knocking teeth loose, fracturing his skull and causing massive internal bleeding, according to prosecutors.

The defendant and his family tried to cover up this murder, telling police and even the victim’s family that this occurred during a break-in, according to Williams.

While Richmond County investigators interviewed the defendant, they noticed he had swelling and cuts to his hands, consistent with having punched something repeatedly. That led them to suspect him.

Most witnesses in the case were related to the defendant, many of whom changed their statements from the time of the incident to trial, according to Williams.

The case hinged upon the testimony of the defendant’s son, a child who was 5 years old at the time.

The child, now 10, admitted to being coached by his family to change his story at trial to “say the words that would set my daddy free.”

“The jury was able to see the truth through the lies, and found the verdict that spoke justice for the victim and his family,” Williams said in a statement.

Essential to uncovering the truth was the surveillance video from across the street, where a neighbor’s cameras recorded all the comings and goings in the aftermath of the killing.

After prosecutors gave closing arguments, the jury found the defendant guilty of malice murder and felony murder.

Kirkland was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

“Gary Stringer turned 61 just a few hours before his death,” Assistant District Attorney Keagan Waystack said after the trial. “What a terrible birthday present: a brutal beating by a coward half his age.”

Williams said:

“I am grateful for this jury who represented our community so well in its dedication in finding the truth.”

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

8 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

20 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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