Georgia's Top 5: Our Most Popular Facebook Stories This Week

From a life sentence for a double-murder convict to the first death-row inmate of 2017, check out the stories Georgia Patch readers were sharing, reading and commenting on for the week of May 15.

Canton Police Officer Prevents Suicide

A Canton police officer stopped a man from committing suicide in the parking lot of the Canton Market Place shopping center. Canton police had been notified that night of the man and his suicidal thoughts. Around 7:00 p.m., Canton police were notified of the man and were told he was suicidal and armed. A look out for the man was issued. Officer Jonathan Nelson of the Canton Police Department was the one who spotted the man in his vehicle.

UPDATE: Roswell Double Murder Convict Gets Life In Prison

The man accused of killing two teens last year has been found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. Jeffrey Hazelwood, 20, pleaded guilty to 15 charges against him including murder and aggravated sexual battery. On Aug. 1, 2016, around 3:00 a.m., Hazelwood followed Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis to the back of a Publix in Roswell, observed them for some time, then approached the vehicle they were in. He opened the back door and was confronted by Davis. Reportedly afraid of Davis, Hazelwood shot him in the head.

Georgia Executes First Death-Row Inmate of 2017

J.W. "Boy" Ledford became Georgia's first inmate put to death in 2017 in the early morning hours on May 16. Ledford, 45, who was convicted of the 1992 stabbing death of a doctor in north Georgia, received a lethal injection at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson and was pronounced dead at 1:17 a.m. Ledford did not accept a final prayer and recorded a final statement, according to state prison officials.

Manslaughter Charges 'Inappropriate,' Woodstock Family Of Accused Penn State Student Says

The family of a Penn State University student from Woodstock charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a fellow fraternity brother in February has issued a public statement saying the charges are "inappropriate." The family of Michael Bonatucci, 19, issued the statement hours after Timothy Piazza's parents appeared on several morning news programs. In an interview with Matt Lauer of NBC's "Today," Piazza's father, Jim, said the fraternity brothers who failed to call for help are responsible for Michael's death.

Snake Bites On The Rise In North Georgia

The number of snake bites in Georgia, particularly north Georgia, is on the rise this year and promises to keep climbing as the state enters the warm summer months. Last year, the Georgia Poison Center recorded a record 466 snake bites. This year, before the busy season for bites even begins, there have already been about 60 recorded bites in the state, according to Gaylord Lopez, director of the center. That's compared to 35 bites during the same period last year.

Image via Tad Arensmeier (Wikimedia Commons)