The quiet Bryan County community of Nevils, Georgia, is struggling to come to terms with a heartbreaking loss after a married couple was found shot to death inside their home on Sunday evening, March 8, 2026. Kenneth C. “Craig” Lanier and his wife, Rhonda Lanier, were discovered by deputies responding to a developing investigation tied to a stolen vehicle and a fleeing suspect.
Authorities say the tragic chain of events began around 4 p.m. earlier that day. Investigators believe Anthony Andrea Forney approached a man who had stopped along the road to help someone who appeared to be out of gas. During that moment of goodwill, Forney allegedly climbed into the man’s truck and drove off with it.
The truck’s owner quickly used GPS tracking to follow the vehicle’s movement and alerted law enforcement. Deputies from Bulloch County and troopers from the Georgia State Patrol soon located a gray Toyota Camry connected to the situation. Officers spotted the vehicle speeding along roads in Bryan County and began pursuing it.
During the chase, investigators say the Camry’s brake lights suddenly came on. The car swerved off the roadway and flipped into a ditch along Ash Branch Church Road. When officers approached the wrecked vehicle, they discovered the driver, identified as Forney, had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the overturned car.
While that scene unfolded, deputies were directed to a nearby residence tied to the investigation. When officers entered the home along Ash Branch Road in Nevils, they made the devastating discovery. Craig and Rhonda Lanier had both been shot and killed.
Investigators also found the stolen truck on the property, linking the earlier vehicle theft to the deadly scene at the Lanier home. Authorities immediately secured the area and shut down nearby roads while detectives began collecting evidence and interviewing potential witnesses.
Bryan County Sheriff Mark D. Crowe said the tragedy has weighed heavily on everyone involved. He shared condolences for the Lanier family, noting that the community’s thoughts and prayers are with them during a painful time of loss.
Friends and neighbors describe Craig and Rhonda Lanier as kind and caring people who were deeply connected to their community. Their sudden deaths have left a deep sense of grief across Nevils, where many residents are now gathering around the family with support, prayers, and remembrance.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is still ongoing as detectives work to understand exactly what led up to the violent events that ended two lives and shook a close-knit Georgia community.
