Family of DJ Fickey speaks out about his murder case
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — It has been almost seven years since Donald (D.J.) Fickey was found dead in Walker County.
(Amanda Fickey at her brother’s gravesite)
The autopsy was performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which originally ruled his death as a suicide. However, Fickey’s family said otherwise.
“We knew from day one my son was murdered, and I told them that,” said Fickey’s mother, Kathy.
They have since been fighting for justice to be served.
Fickey’s family hired a private investigator around 2017. After looking at all the evidence, P.I. Eric Echols said he believed it was a homicide as well.
“This is a suicide case. And the person who called it in, they’re believing him over the physical evidence? They didn’t do any physical evidence?” Echols said.
While the family was fighting for the case to be reopened, the GBI changed the death ruling to “undetermined” in 2020.
The family then began meeting with Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Clay Fuller to move forward in the case.
“He has been supportive,” Fickey’s sister, Amanda Shirley said. “He has kept us updated, stayed in contact, a complete turnaround.”
On April 24, Walker County filed an indictment for the arrest of Marshall (Mark) Payne.
It wasn’t until this week that Murray County Sheriff’s Office said they were notified of Payne living within their jurisdiction.
Marshall Payne (Walker County Sheriff’s Office)
They quickly found and arrested Payne and transported him back to Walker County. Payne claims he is innocent.
According to his indictment, Payne is being charged with malice murder and felony murder.
District Attorney Fuller stated that 50-year-old Payne is awaiting an initial court appearance.
“Mark was having an affair with Brandy, D.J.’s wife. I feel truly in my heart that Mark was just wanting D.J. out of the picture,” Shirley explained.
The family believes Payne murdered Fickey. They say the weapon used in his death was a shotgun. And Fickey’s family is glad to see Payne off the streets.
“I know it’s not going to bring him back, but I hope this man is taken away from his family like he took my son away from me,” Kathy Fickey said.
Fickey’s sister, Amanda, said they hope the case will go to trial.
Regardless, the impact of his death cannot be undone. Especially the impact it has had on his children.
When asked what Jackie remembers about his father, he said, “He picked me up and he put me on his shoulders. And then he carried me all around the house. And… that’s mostly what, all I remember of him.”
Jackie is 9 years old now, and his two twin sisters are 7.
At the time of Fickey’s death, they were only 1 and 2 years old. Now, Kathy has adopted the children and are raising them as her own.
