Rockdale Citizen

Photo by Kristen Ralph

CONYERS -- Law enforcement officials have arrested a suspect in connection with the homicide of a man found dead in a burned pickup truck, according to Rockdale County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Jodi Shupe in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

Kelton Perez Franklin, 36, of 1972 Creekside Court, Decatur, was arrested Feb. 14 and faces a charge of making false statements and writings and concealment of facts. The charge stems from the investigation of the death of Martin Villagomez, who was reported missing from Auburn.

The release explained that the charges are related to Franklin providing false statements to investigators after being questioned in connection with Villagomez's death.

"Investigators have questioned several persons of interest in the case, including Kelton Franklin," the press release said.

RCSO Lt. Matt Wolfe told the Citizen on Wednesday afternoon that Villagomez was an electrician and explained the relationship between Franklin and Villagomez.

"He (Franklin) acted as a foreman on jobs that (Villagomez) was doing," Wolfe said.

He said Franklin was asked about Villagomez's whereabouts and who was with him when he was last seen.

Franklin posted a $10,000 bond and was released the same day of his arrest, according to Wolfe.

Authorities have been investigating the death since Rockdale County firefighters found the burned vehicle Feb. 5 off the roadway on Turner Road near Abbott Road. Firefighters discovered the body of a man thought to be Villagomez in the truck.

Wolfe said the body still has not been positively identified through DNA.

RCSO told the Citizen last week that the death is being investigated as a homicide. RCSO said it knew the cause of death, but declined to release the information.

In other public safety news, Conyers Police and Rockdale Fire and Rescue responded to a pedestrian struck by a car around lunchtime Tuesday.

Deputy Fire Chief Mike Lee said firefighters responded and provided medical treatment to a man hit by a vehicle around noon at the intersection of Main and Peek streets. Lee said the man was conscious and alert when help arrived, but complained of hip pain. The victim was put on a backboard and transported to a medical facility by emergency medical personnel.

Further details of the incident from Conyers Police were not available by presstime Wednesday.