4 charged in home invasion, beating death of flea market worker

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Four people were arrested after a flea market worker was found beaten in a home invasion.

The attack happened a few minutes before noon Saturday. Covington police said they were called to a home on West Street in Covington for reports of a home invasion.

At the home, officers found 59-year-old Fred Beeler on a living room couch, Covington police said. They said he had been hit in the head multiple times. Hours later, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police said a group of men, including two teens, were after Beeler’s money. They said he had a lot of cash on hand. Colleagues said Beeler ran a flea market booth.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Shane Deforest Winter, 21, Justin Lee Bennett, 19, Preston Ranard Mayson, 21, and 17-year-old Shavarious Jawan Moses. All four were charged with murder, armed robbery and burglary.