Husband Convicted Of Murdering Wife Gets Life Without Parole

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Ball Ground man will spend the rest of his life in prison in connection to the murder of his wife, who was fatally shot in December 2016 while driving along Highway 92 in Woodstock.

A Cherokee County trial jury on Monday, Oct. 29 convicted Darrell L. Eaker of one count each of malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, criminal damage to property in the first degree and discharge of a gun near highway or street. Court records show Eaker was sentenced to serve life without parole in prison.

Eaker shot and killed his estranged wife, Audra Eaker, while she was driving a 2011 Ford Edge on Ga. 92 westbound at Indian Valley Drive, the Woodstock Police Department previously told Patch. The woman's body was found inside the Ford Edge around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 27, 2016, at the intersection in front of the QuikTrip convenience store.

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Eaker, who was 43 at the time of his arrest, was indicted in March 2017 in connection to the shooting. According to the indictment, Eaker fired an H&K .45 caliber handgun at his estranged wife, and the bullets struck the victim in her face and head.

According to warrants obtained by Woodstock police, Audra Eaker was shot five times in the head and face. Following the shooting, Eaker dropped the firearm inside the vehicle following the shooting and walked away from the car "without even attempting life saving actions," those warrants state. The shooting also caused damage to another vehicle driven by a motorist.

Photo: Darrell Eaker. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office