DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — After being accused of luring a locksmith to his death, a teenager has been released from jail and the charges against him have been dropped.
In June of 2022, Peter McGrath, a 36-year-old locksmith, was found dead inside his burnt out van on Mecklinburg Place in Decatur near Towers High School. He had been called to Wood Bend Drive in Decatur to help a woman who had locked her keys in her car.
The investigation into McGrath’s murder is still open, despite the release of the teenager initially believed to be involved in the deadly robbery. The teenager was arrested in February 2023, but the charges against him were Nolle Prossed, according to the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Trial attorney Chuck Boring, a former prosecutor, explained that charges can be dropped due to new evidence or an inability to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The possibility of other perpetrators being involved in the killing who have not been apprehended yet could also affect the decision to dismiss charges.
Meanwhile, McGrath’s wife, Amber McGrath, is turning her attention towards pushing for legislative change. She is advocating for a bill that makes it a felony to lure service providers to a location for nefarious reasons. McGrath hopes to honor her late husband’s memory and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The investigation into McGrath’s murder remains ongoing, and no additional suspects have been charged at this time.
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