CUMMING — Authorities say a 42-year-old Forsyth County man meant to harm his girlfriend when, after an argument, he struck her with his pickup truck while she walked along Shiloh Road.
Christy Lea Ingram Newton, a 34-year-old mother of two, died of her injuries three days later.
As a result, Mark Douglas Jones of Cumming has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and first-degree vehicular homicide.
Jones, who was first charged with driving under the influence on March 23 and released later that day on $1,375 bond, was arrested again Tuesday night by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
He is being held without bond in the Forsyth County Detention Center. A court appearance has not been set. Sheriff’s investigators said these are the first homicide charges in Forsyth County since August 2006.
Newton’s father, Kenneth Ingram, said Thursday his family hopes for justice.
"My daughter is already gone. She’s dead," Ingram said. "We can’t bring her back, but maybe this will help someone else.
"Maybe this will save somebody else’s life to have this fella pay for what he’s done ... he needs to suffer so that someone else won’t have to because he’s the one that did this."
According to investigators, Jones and Newton had been arguing at Jones’ residence in the overnight hours of March 22 and 23.
Newton left the home, walking along Shiloh Road, where she was later struck by a 1987 Toyota pickup driven by Jones, authorities said.
Newton died as a result of her injuries on March 26 at an Atlanta hospital.
Sheriff’s Lt. Col. Gene Moss said the department’s traffic specialist unit reconstructed the incident. The sheriff’s special victims unit and crime scene investigators also worked the case.
"Based on the reconstruction, it was determined that she was several feet off the roadway and the vehicle had traveled off the roadway when she was hit," Moss said. "It appears he drove off the roadway in an aggressive manner."
Sheriff’s investigator Bill Franco said there was "reason to believe he intentionally drove his vehicle to strike the victim."
Investigator Jeffrey Robertson said the incident was still under investigation when Newton died.
"The evidence indicated a domestic violence issue intensified with alcohol and drugs," Robertson said.
He added that the reconstruction of the wreck, Newton’s autopsy and statements by Jones were included in the investigation.
Authorities declined to comment on whether Jones had a criminal history, though a check of Georgia Department of Corrections records revealed no convictions.
Memorial services for Newton were held Tuesday at Trinity Worship Center on Kelly Mill Road.
In addition to her father, she is survived by her 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son; mother, Patricia Ingram of Cumming; sister, Teresa Ingram of Cumming; brother and sister-in-law, Nicky and Valerie Ingram of Cumming; and sister and brother-in-law, Ruby and Doug McClure of Marble Hill.