Police Question Two in Death of Local Woman

JONESBORO, Ga. - Police said they have two suspects in the murder of a Riverdale woman.

Investigators say 30-year-old Rochelle Alicia Thomas was murdered on Wednesday sometime after she dropped her children off at their school bus stop.

Police said on Friday that they believe Thomas was killed at an apartment at the complex where her body was found. Investigators say Thomas’ partially-clothed body was found under a blanket in the woods behind the Harmony Crossroads Apartments on Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro on Wednesday night.

Residents at the apartment complex said they saw investigators at a unit about 200 feet away from where Thomas' body was located.

Officials said they suspect there were two people involved in the murder.

"There was one person who committed the murder, and one person did the cleanup," said Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Ellen.

One of the suspects was arrested on a charge not related to the murder, according to officials.

An unidentified woman was seen taken away from the Jonesboro Police Department on a gurney after an apparent medical emergency. Jonesboro police said she is a person of interest.

Police said the murder appeared to be sexual in nature, but did not elaborate.

Thomas had been reported missing by her mother around 2:30 p.m. after she failed to pick her kids up from the bus stop after school.

Thomas' mother, Beverly, said she was grateful to hear that police were questioning two potential suspects.

"God have mercy on their souls. My family and I, we can all forgive because we are Christian and God-loving people so that we can be forgiven, but we won't forget," Beverly Thomas said.

Thomas' car was found on Tara Boulevard.

Police said they were awaiting arrest warrants late Friday night. The suspects' name and the charges they face have not been released.