Update on Feb. 20, 2025 @ 7 p.m.
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has given an update in a homicide investigation that led to an arrest in Stephens County on Wednesday and human remains found in Cornelia early Thursday.
Rockdale County reports that on Tuesday, they responded to a welfare check on Bethel Road in Conyers.
They were not able to make contact at that time.
On Wednesday, Rockdale received additional information which led investigators to believe potential foul play was involved in the missing person case.
That led to 57-year-old Lee Daffin being labeled a person of interest. Daffin was apprehended in Stephens County after a brief vehicle pursuit.
Officials then found a body in Cornelia early Thursday but are still working to identify the body.
The investigation is ongoing and Daffin has been charged with felony aggravated assault and felony terroristic threats and acts.
Update on Feb. 20, 2025 @ 12:45 p.m.
In connection to a homicide case out of Rockdale County, a body has been discovered in Cornelia.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office reported that at around 12 a.m. Thursday, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office contacted them about the human remains.
Rockdale told Habersham officials that during a homicide investigation, they determined a body was possibly located past the end of Carpenter’s Cove Lane.
Habersham personnel cleared the scene at around 3 a.m. while Rockdale investigators said they have an individual in custody and there is “no danger to the public.”
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency in the case.
Original story published on Feb. 20, 2025 @ 7:13 a.m.
A suspect in a Rockdale County homicide case was apprehended on Wednesday in Toccoa after a chase involving the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office was notified on Wednesday morning that a person who was possibly involved in a suspected homicide in Rockdale County may be passing through and headed to the Carolinas. The tipster provided a physical description of the suspect, as well as a description of the suspect’s vehicle.
Just before noon, the vehicle was spotted by Stephens County deputies on Highway 365/Highway 17 Alternate and they initiated a traffic stop. However, the suspect refused to immediately stop and a chase ensued.
Once the suspect got to the intersection of Highway 106 and Highway 145, the Georgia State Patrol assumed the pursuit. It ended when the suspect’s vehicle came to a stop on Collier Road near Swift Street.
Once stopped, the suspect surrendered to law enforcement without incident. The suspect was taken to the Stephens County Jail.
Rockdale County authorities arrived Wednesday evening to take the suspect into their custody.
