Metro Atlanta man Joseph Mays gets life sentence after girlfriend’s body discovered near trail

RINGGOLD, Ga. — A Griffin man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to killing his girlfriend, whose body was discovered near a walking trail in Catoosa County last year.

Joseph Mays, 34, entered a guilty plea to malice murder on Feb. 10 in Catoosa County Superior Court in the death of Jamie Wiley, 36, of Michigan.

Authorities said Mays and Wiley had been dating for several months and were living together in Wiley’s camper at an RV park in Catoosa County. On the evening of Jan. 17, 2025, investigators said Mays shot Wiley in the head while inside the camper.

Prosecutors said Mays then attempted to conceal the crime by dumping Wiley’s body near a creek along the Chief Richard Taylor Trail in Ringgold. The following morning, members of a walking group found her body off the trail.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation launched a probe after Wiley’s phone and wallet were removed, leaving her unidentified for nearly 48 hours. Investigators ultimately confirmed her identity through fingerprint analysis.

Authorities said Wiley’s relatives later helped direct agents to Mays. During questioning, Mays admitted to shooting Wiley but claimed he acted in self-defense. Investigators said physical evidence and his actions after the shooting did not support a claim of justifiable homicide.

Mays had been scheduled to stand trial next month. However, following pretrial motions on Feb. 10, he chose to plead guilty to malice murder.

A judge sentenced Mays to life in prison in the Georgia Department of Corrections. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

Acting District Attorney Deanna Reisman said while no sentence can bring Wiley back, the guilty plea ensures accountability and reinforces that domestic violence cases will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Wiley’s family supported the plea agreement and life sentence.