DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A teenager who was once accused of luring a locksmith to his death has been released from jail, and the charges against him have been dropped. The incident took place in June of 2022 in Decatur, near Towers High School, where the locksmith, Peter McGrath, was found dead in his burnt-out van. McGrath had been called to Wood Bend Drive in Decatur by a woman who claimed to have locked her keys in her car. Upon arrival, he was attacked, shot, and killed by robbers who then drove his work van with his body inside before setting it on fire on Mecklinburg Place.
The teenager believed to have been involved in the deadly robbery was arrested in February 2023, but according to Dekalb County jail records, he was released on December 26. However, the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office stated that no additional suspects have been charged at this time. They also mentioned that the investigation into Peter McGrath’s murder is still open and pending.
Former prosecutor Chuck Boring explained that the charges against the teenager may have been dropped due to a variety of reasons, such as the discovery of new evidence or the need to build a stronger case. Despite the lack of justice, McGrath’s widow is now focusing on advocating for legislative change to create a bill that makes it a felony to lure service providers to a location for nefarious reasons.
The case of McGrath’s murder remains unresolved, and with the release of the accused teenager, there are still unanswered questions about the events leading to the tragic death of the locksmith. The investigation into the case and the efforts to seek justice for McGrath are ongoing.