Man killed in Athens crash, suspect arrested in Hall Co murder

We have today the name of the Athens man killed in a weekend crash on Highway 29 North: John Smith was 37 years old. Athens-Clarke County Police are investigating.

A man arrested for drug trafficking in a narcotics bust late last month now faces a warrant for his role in an almost 20 year-old murder case. Hall County Sheriff's Sergeant Stephen Wilbanks says 42 year-old Jose Rojas was first arrested in the narcotics bust in September; that’s when law enforcement in Gainesville learned he had warrants in the death of 34 year-old Jorge Ortega. Ortega had been hit in the head with a board and left in a wooded area in September 2000, and was found several days later by a hunter. Wilbanks says they believe Rojas escaped to Mexico until he resurfaced in the narcotics case.