School Assistant Principal Among Four Arrested in 11-Year-Old Clayton County Cold Case Murder Investigation

Clayton County Authorities arrested four men from multiple states in connection with an 11-year-old Clayton County cold case involving the torture and murder of three victims.

On January 13, 2013, police found a 2010 Dodge Charger deserted on Interstate 85 in Union City, Georgia, containing the bodies of 32-year-old Cheryl Colquitt-Thompson, 33-year-old Quinones King, and 43-year-old Rodney Cottrell.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner revealed that Colquitt-Thompson was discovered deceased from strangulation in the vehicle’s trunk, and King and Cottrell were found on the rear seats, having perished from asphyxiation.

Officials determined that the suspects lured the victims to a Magnolia Drive home in Jonesboro, held them captive at gunpoint, tortured them, and then killed them before placing them in the vehicle.

Decades later, in 2024, officials uncovered evidence leading to the apprehension of four men. One of the suspects, 45-year-old Keante Harris, was employed as the McAdory Middle School assistant principal in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin stated, “We have been made aware that Mr. Keante Harris was arrested Wednesday afternoon. At this time, we still are gathering facts about the specifics of this situation; however, early indications are that the charges are not related to this individual’s employment with Jefferson County Schools. Per standard procedure, Mr. Harris has been placed on paid administrative leave. As more facts become available, we will act according to our district’s policy.”

Later, the school district said in a statement that the board of education had accepted Keante Harris’ resignation as assistant principal of McAdory Middle School.

Harris faces three counts of malice murder and remains detained at the Jefferson County Jail, awaiting an expected extradition to Georgia on May 28 or earlier.

Authorities apprehended the three other suspects in Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. A Clayton County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson expressed in a statement, “Chief Kevin Robert, the head of Clayton County Police Department, and his outstanding investigators were able to crack this 11-year-old case and provide Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley and her team with the proper information to successfully get murder indictments from the grand jury.”

On Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office received 12 murder warrants for Kenneth Thompson (3 Counts of Malice Murder), Keante Harris (3 Counts of Malice Murder), Kevin Harris (3 Counts of Malice Murder), Darrell Harris (3 Counts of Malice Murder).

Upon receipt of this information, Sheriff Levon Allen immediately activated his “Elite Fugitive Unit” to locate and apprehend all four of the outstanding suspects. Within 48 hours all four murder suspects were taken into custody across three states without incident.

Officials have not released whether or not the three Harris men are relatives.

This case is pending in court.