Suspect Wanted in Attempted Murder Investigation

The following press release has been issued by Towns County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Saturday evening, September 8th, Towns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee, Georgia in reference to a male subject who was brought to the hospital with a bullet wound to the chest. The victim was identified as William Craig Henderson of Young Harris, Georgia. The victim was air-lifted from Chatuge Regional Hospital to another medical facility with a trauma center. The victim remains in stable condition.

Towns County Sheriff’s detectives were called to the hospital to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. Upon investigating the incident, detectives identified and secured warrants for Crystal LeAnn Carter, age 37, of Hiawassee, Georgia for one count of criminal attempt to commit murder and one count of aggravated assault.

Upon dropping off the victim at Chatuge Regional Hospital, Carter drove away in the victim’s Chevrolet Tahoe. A lookout was placed on the Tahoe and the suspect. The vehicle was found abandoned later Saturday night in the parking lot of the Marathon station on Highway 75 North in Hiawassee. Sheriff’s detectives determined that Carter left the Marathon station in her own red Ford pickup. This afternoon, sheriff’s detectives located the red Ford pickup at a residence in Clay County, North Carolina with the assistance of Clay County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, Crystal LeAnn Carter, is considered armed and dangerous. She is believed to be in the Hiawassee, Georgia / Hayesville, North Carolina areas. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Crystal LeAnn Carter is encouraged to call Towns County 911 or Towns County Sheriff’s Office at 706-896-4444.