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Grand Jury Indicts Two For Murder Of Beulah Convenience Store Clerk
March 12, 2019
A grand jury has indicted two people for the murder of a convenience store in Beulah.
The grand returned indictments of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery against Efidarius Gemeateus Bryant and Keandra Martez Smith.
The indictments stem from the death of Govardhan “Reddy” Kotha, a clerk at the Quick Fill gas station located at 7144 Mobile Highway on February 19. Bryant and Smith are being held on no bond with an arraignment set for Thursday.
A third person, Crystal Clausell, is being charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Her arraignment is also set for Thursday.
A customer that entered the store the night of February 19 called authorities because he did not see a clerk in the store and the register drawer was open. Deputies arrived to find that Kotha, 50, was shot in the head and chest.
On the surveillance video, deputies watched as Smith entered the store in a gray hoodie. He purchased sunflower seeds and left the store. Then Bryant entered the store wearing mask, brandishing a 9mm semi-automatic automatic handgun at Kotha. A short time later, he lifted the cash register draw and fired two shots at Kotha, hitting him in the upper chest and head, according to a report.
Smith, according to the report, left the store without taking any cash.
By early morning, surveillance images were posted on social media and news media, including NorthEscambia.com. A tipster came forward an identified one of the suspects as Smith to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Smith was taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, wearing the same hoodie as in the surveillance video. A police report notes he was distraught and crying hysterically.
At no point did Smith attempt to render first aid to Kotha, contact emergency medical services or reach out to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the report revealed.
Smith provided his DNA to autorities, according to the report.
Clausell and Bryant were dating, the investigation revealed.
Comments
4 Responses to “Grand Jury Indicts Two For Murder Of Beulah Convenience Store Clerk”
Justice for Reddy.
They’ve outlawed justice in the USA.
Too bad they don’t use Old Sparky any more. But the store is located in my ancestral homeland of Klondike, not Beulah. Beulah is west of Eleven Mile Creek, Klondike proper lies between Eight Mile Creek & east of Eleven Mile Creek.
Why is Clausell not being charged with accessory to murder?!
Death penalty for both, callous despicable acts…Justice for Reddy