Arrest made in 1984 Whitfield County murder

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — An arrest has been made in a 1984 murder in Whitfield County.

Jay Thomas Burlison is charged with murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

The Whitfield County District Attorney says Burlison was arrested on Monday in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee on a Governor’s warrant. He waived extradition and was transported to the Whitfield County Jail.

According to the original incident report, the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office received a call at the Golden Gallon in Rocky Face on November 12, 1984.

Ernest Griffin (family provided photo)

Ernest Griffin was lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the head. He later died.

Investigators say Burlison’s wife, Mary, was there and she had been shot several times. He is also accused of snapping a gun at the store clerk, who called the sheriff’s office.

Burlison’s bond hearing is scheduled for Friday in Superior Court.