GA Mother & Daughter Found Dead In Dalton Home Thursday Identified, Suspect In Custody

WHITFIELD, GA. (THECOUNT) — Judy Potts, 72, and Krystal Spainhour, 44, have been identified as the women found dead at a home in the 200 block of Tanglewood Drive, in Dalton, GA, Thursday, in a double homicide.

Officials say the victims were mother and daughter. The family dog was also injured in the incident.

The suspect, Michael Brandon Townsend, called 911 around 3:00 am. Deputies responded to the home and found Potts and Spainhour dead from multiple injuries.

Deputies say the women died of blunt force trauma and suspected stab/cut wounds.

Townsend is being charged with 2 counts of murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault and 1 count of aggravated battery.

A motive is unclear in the case, officials said.

“Our understanding he was a roommate there at the residence with the elder woman and younger female. It is possible that the younger female and suspect had a brief relationship,” investigators noted.

The Whitfield County Animal Shelter confirms the family’s dog was also injured in the incident. The dog suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The Whitfield Animal Shelter is raising money to help pay for the dog’s medical treatment.

Townsend was taken into custody. He faces two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery.

Whitfield Animal Shelter is raising money to help pay for the dog’s medical treatment:

Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Murray and Whitfield counties, source Wikipedia.