Cullie Mitchell Denney, Carroll County deputy's brother dies from gunshot wound

The brother of a Carroll County sheriff’s deputy died Tuesday, three days after he was shot in the head during a party held at the home of a county commissioner.

Authorities say Cullie Mitchell Denney, 21, was shot in the head with a .45-caliber handgun, and then dumped in the woods. Denney died at Grady Memorial Hospital, Georgia Bureau Investigation spokesman John Bankhead told the AJC.

Because Denney died, the GBI will be upgrading the charges against suspect Zachary Sibley, 21.

After consulting with District Attoey Pete Skandalakis, GBI agents will obtain warrants on Wednesday charging Sibley with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and felony tampering with evidence, Bankhead said.

Sibley made his first appearance in Carroll Superior Court on Monday. He did not request bail, according to assistant district attoey Jeff Hunt, and was charged at the time with aggravated assault and reckless conduct. He remains in the Carroll County jail.

The shooting occurred at a party thrown by District 5 Commissioner Kevin Jackson’s son at the family’s home in Whitesburg. Jackson was out of town.

Investigators haven’t determined if the shooting was accidental; witnesses said Sibley had pointed the gun at the victim’s head before it went off.

Denney has a sibling who is a Carroll deputy, so the case will be handled by the GBI. Immediately after the shooting, Sibley told Jackson’s son he would take Denney to Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Bankhead said. Instead, he allegedly hid the body off Lake Seaton near Hutchinson Ferry and Cross Plains roads, then retued to the party.

Carroll County deputies had already been dispatched to the scene after a 911 call was placed by Jackson’s son. Sibley eventually acknowledged what he had done, leading deputies to Denney some four hours after the shooting, Bankhead said. Denney was immediately airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital.

The investigation is continuing, Bankhead said.