Travis Abbott has been charged with murder after investigators determined his ex-girlfriend’s death in a Newton County lake was not an accidental drowning.
The Details: Newton County Sheriff’s deputies discovered Sease’s body on March 3 in a lake off Highway 212 in Covington. What initially appeared to be a drowning quickly turned into a homicide investigation.
Following a week-long investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at Abbott’s Walton County home on March 10, leading to his arrest. Abbott now faces charges of murder and concealing a death.
Investigators have not released information about how Sease was killed or what evidence led them to Abbott. He remains in custody at the Walton County Detention Center awaiting transfer to Newton County.
In Context: Domestic violence experts identify the period after relationship dissolution as particularly dangerous.
Sheriff Ezell Brown extended condolences to Sease’s family as the investigation continues. Sease lived in Blairsville, nearly 100 miles from where her body was found.
🗂️ Domestic Violence Stats: A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that between 2003 and 2014, about 55% of all female homicides in the U.S. were related to intimate partner violence.
How You Can Help: Anyone with information about this case should contact the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at 678-625-1400. Those experiencing domestic violence can call the Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-334-2836 for confidential support.
