SHARPSBURG, GA – A horrifying incident unfolded on Tuesday night in the town of Sharpsburg, Georgia, as Vanessa Phillips, a 35-year-old mother of five, was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband, Dustin Phillips. The shocking act of violence occurred in front of their four-year-old daughter, leaving the community in shock.
According to the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Vanessa’s lifeless body was discovered outside a home in the 100 block of Halo Trace. In response, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and U.S. Marshals were called in to assist with the investigation and a subsequent manhunt for Dustin Phillips.
The following evening, Coweta County Sheriff’s deputies received crucial information leading them back to a residence in south Georgia. It was there that they encountered Dustin, who allegedly brandished a gun at the police. In response, deputies fired back, resulting in Dustin’s death at the scene. The safety concerns prompted the temporary closure of the Sharpsburg Town Hall, as well as Staley Park and Pavilion, on Wednesday.
Friends and family members described Vanessa and Dustin’s relationship as toxic, noting that the couple had separated a year ago. After their split, Vanessa relocated with her children from Tennessee to Coweta County. Dustin abused his family mentally and physically, yet no legal action was taken despite numerous police reports filed in Georgia and Tennessee.
Jeyson Brooks, Vanessa’s youngest brother, shared that since moving back to Coweta County, his sister, and her children had been able to reconnect with their extended family, making it a year marked by joy and growth. Brooks commended Vanessa for her unwavering dedication and love for her children, emphasizing her role as a loving mother. He described her as an “absolute angel” who always sought the goodness in others.
Vanessa Phillips leaves behind five children, ranging in age from four to eighteen, with her oldest son also being a parent to a one-year-old baby. As the community mourns the loss of a cherished mother and sister, the investigation into the tragic incident continues in hopes of shedding light on the factors that led to this devastating act of violence.