CLAYTON - The manhunt for a Cleveland man wanted in connection with a murder discovered Tuesday afternoon in western North Carolina came to an end early Thursday.
Just before 1 a.m. Thursday, the Rabun County Sheriff's Office issued a community alert saying 30-year-old Brandon Thomas Hogan of 389 Hogan Road, Cleveland, was in custody there.
According to information provided by Madison County (North Carolina) Chief Deputy Michael L. Garrison, Hogan was wanted in connection with the death of 67-year-old Edward Brown Praytor of Marshall, N.C.
Hogan's mother, 47-year-old Nancy Cherie Hogan, also faces a murder warrant in connection with Praytor's death and now is in police custody. Nancy Hogan, whose last known address was with Praytor at his 2010 Sandy Mush Road in Marshall, N.C., was identified by Garrison as Praytor's estranged ex-girlfriend.
Nancy Hogan was arrested Wednesday night at a home in Rabun County. Officers from Rabun County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 Unit effected that arrest.
According to information provided by Garrison, deputies responded to a possible stabbing/assault call at the home in Marshall at 1:23 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies arrived and located Praytor lying in the driveway adjacent to his home, with lacerations to his face and neck. Garrison said he appeared to have been dead for several hours.
An autopsy performed on Praytor showed he died of blunt force trauma to the head. Additionally, he suffered numerous cuts and a stab wound.
A murder warrant has been issued in North Carolina for Brandon Hogan.
Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell said Brandon Hogan is wanted as on a superior court bench warrant in Habersham County.
Garrison said the warrant stems from failure to appear on felony child molestation charges.
Hogan has ties with Cleveland, Clarkesville, Clayton and Cornelia.
