Suspect in murder of McIntosh Co. fisherman granted bond - WTOC

BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A man charged with murdering a fisherman on the shrimping docks at the Darien Waterfront last summer was granted bond Thursday.

33-year-old Justin Barnard is facing charges for felony murder and aggravated in the death of 51-year-old Neil Trutt. McIntosh County Deputies say Trutt was found badly beaten on the Thompson Seafood Dock in Darien on July 2nd. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

While it was a McIntosh County case, the judge was working in Bryan County Thursday, so the hearing was held there.

At the hearing, we’re getting a better picture of what investigators say happened the night of Neil Trutt’s death last July.

“Who hit you, Neil? McIntosh County 911, where is your emergency? Uhh… Thompson Seafood..”

“I got down to my shrimp boat, there’s a guy on the dock all bloodied up, I don’t know what’s going on.”

That’s part of the 911 call from the night Neil Trutt died. According to 911 records, this call went out around 10:36 on the night of July 2nd.

In court, Investigator Mike Ward with the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office pinpointing the time of the incident to around 9:45 that night. He says witnesses saw Justin Barnard’s car down by the docks around the time of the incident but Barnard told investigators he was at home.

“A vehicle matching a large silver SUV was seen at the scene at 21:45 hours by a witness at the time. It was observed coming in from the condo side off of Fort King George,” said Ward.

Ward also recounts what people near the docks told him that night.

“He hears a bunch of commotion up under Thompson Dock. Commotion, things being slung around, he hears explicit language, things like that, after that short time, the vehicle then departs at a rapid pace through Boone’s Dock toward Fort King George.”

Meanwhile, the defense inquiring if Trutt who was reportedly living at the dock at the time of the incident could have gotten his injuries from a fall instead.

“Was there any discussion about the fact that Mr. Trutt may have simply fallen off the table he was sleeping on and injured himself?” asked defense attorney Mitch Shook.

“I don’t remember any discussion like that,” said Ward.

An investigator with the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office began to lay out what they believe could be a motive.

“He said they were supposed to go fishing June 30th. However, Trutt took off with his truck, which corroborated even more so that the truck was taken by Neil Trutt without Justin Barnard’s permission,” said Ward.

Ward also says investigators found blood inside Barnard’s SUV.

“The GBI crime lab report stated that Neil Trutt’s blood was 10 quadrillion times more probable in that vehicle, and Justin Barnard’s was two sextillion times more probable in that same suspect vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe.”

Ward also pointing out some of their findings from Barnard’s phone – including deleted messages.

“It was obviously deleted, several messages through the timeframe of the murder until about nine days after, approximately. However, a google search was there, and it stated ‘what is the sentencing for conspiracy to commit murder in Georgia?’”

Many supporters of Barnard were in attendance. Some of them– the defense called to the stand including one family friend, who is also a lieutenant with the Lyons Police Department.

“I absolutely do trust him. We’re family friends, we raised our families together, I’m close with his parents,” said Andrew Britton, Barnard’s friend.

“Have you ever known him to be violent with anyone?” asked Shook.

“No, sir,” said Britton.

“You went to school with him all the way through school?” asked Shook.

“Yes, sir,” said Britton.

“And you’ve never known him to commit any violence or violent crimes?” asked Shook.

“No, sir,” said Britton.

Barnard’s father and owner of their family business also testifying on his behalf.

“He’s heavily involved with us now, everything from management to fixing doors, peeling shrimp, scaling fish, to operating the business. He’s a very wonderful young man who works really hard in our family business,” said James Barnard.

Barnard’s bond is set at $150,000 and investigators are still awaiting the official results of Trutt’s autopsy from the state crime lab.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

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