VALDOSTA — A 41-year-old woman has died after being shot in a domestic violence altercation at a Valdosta hotel, according to law officials.
The Valdosta Police Department released a statement Tuesday morning about the weekend incident.
VPD officers were dispatched to a hotel located on the 3000 block of James Road on Sunday, Jan. 14, at about 2 p.m. in response to an E911 call reporting a dispute between a male and a female.
“The caller stated that a female was on the floor and bleeding from the head while the male had left the scene,” the release said.
Police said they found Jessica Lee Hilliard, 41 of Rockford, Tenn., unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her head. EMS transported Hilliard to South Georgia Medical Center, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Officers matched the reported suspect’s description and identity to Robert Melvin Loge, 57, who had fled from the scene. A resident later called and stated that Loge was seen at another hotel, located in the 1300 block of North St. Augustine Road.
Police said they searched the other hotel and found Loge hiding in a maintenance closet. Detectives recovered a firearm and other evidence from Loge that they said connected him to the shooting.
He received felony charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
“This was a tragic domestic violence incident, which should have never escalated to the point that this young woman lost her life. I am proud of the continuous work of our officers and detectives along with other law enforcement in the area to find this offender and take him into custody without incident,” Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan said.