Man Found Guilty in Murder of Close Friend in Cobb County, Receives Life Sentence
Kehari Yarber, aged 26, has been found guilty of multiple charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during a felony. The verdict was announced by Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr., who stated that Yarber has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with an additional five-year term to be served consecutively. The sentencing was carried out by Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II.
The charges stem from an incident on October 31, 2020, when Cobb County Police responded to reports of a body discovered in the woods. The victim, identified as 20-year-old Blake Porter, had succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to his back. Porter was found in a cut-through between the Stratford Ridge apartment complex and the Arium at Bentley complex.
Surveillance footage obtained by detectives revealed Porter walking with an unidentified male into the path where the incident occurred on the evening of October 30, 2020. Muzzle flashes captured on video shortly after their entry into the path led investigators to identify the other individual as Kehari Yarber. Further surveillance footage from a nearby gas station corroborated Yarber’s presence in the vicinity before the incident.
Throughout the investigation, it was revealed that Yarber was a close friend of Porter, often described by family members as Porter’s “twin.” Yarber was apprehended in Clayton County on December 15, 2020, following a comprehensive investigation involving forensic analysis, witness testimonies, and scrutiny of social media records.
After a trial, a 12-person jury delivered a guilty verdict on March 12, 2024. Yarber’s defense was represented by Katie Elwart, while Senior Assistant District Attorneys Stephanie Green and Erman Tanjuatco prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.
“I am grateful for the dedication of law enforcement and the thorough work of our prosecutors in securing justice for Blake Porter and his loved ones. Our office will continue to pursue justice for victims and hold those who commit such senseless acts of violence accountable,” said District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr.
