Woman Charged With Murder, Arson In Paulding County Case

PAULTING COUNTY, GA — Authorities have made an arrest in the case of a car fire in which first responders found a body burnt so much it was unidentifiable. Akeyla Xemaja Philpot, 23, is being charged with the late August murder of Austin Nicholson.

On Aug. 26, soon before 1 a.m., firefighters responded to 2172 Vinson Mountain Crossing in Rockmart to find a vehicle fully engulfed in flames. When they doused the fire, they found a body inside.

"Because the body was so badly burned a preliminary identification on the remains had been impossible to determine," the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said in a release.

Forensic pathologists at the GBI Crime Lab eventually were able to determine that the victim was 24-year-old Austin James Nicholson, of Rockmart, the release says.

Nicholson was charged with murder in January 2017.

CBS6 reported Nicholson was released on bond, but another man arrested for the murder, Carlos Hightower, was still in jail as of Aug. 26, 2019.

Philpot was arrested on Sept. 12 and is being held at the Paulding County Jail with no bond. She's being charged with murder, arson, influencing witnesses and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Authorities are still investigating the case. Anybody with information is asked to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-443-3015.

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See more on Patch: Burnt Body Found In Paulding Car Fire