All four suspects in Hinesville murder granted bond; victim’s mother says she was not allowed to speak at hearings

by Augostina Mallous

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - Nearly three months after a Hinesville man was gunned down in broad daylight, all four suspects charged in his murder have been granted bond.

Devin Copeland, 26, was shot and killed Dec. 3 near the traffic circle at Memorial Drive and South Main Street in downtown Hinesville. Officers found Copeland partially inside a white Kia Rio around noon. He later died at the hospital from gunshot wounds.

Bond granted to all four suspects

Three of the four suspects, Laron Joseph McDonald, 22, an active-duty Fort Stewart soldier; Daivion Bell, 17, of Jesup; and Dalcarri Dashawn Roberson, 18, also of Jesup, were each granted $400,000 bonds. All three are charged with murder and armed robbery.

Military officials confirmed McDonald had been stationed at Fort Stewart for approximately 15 months and had no prior deployments.

A fourth suspect, Jared Elmore, 26, turned himself in to police days after the initial arrests and was also charged with murder. Elmore was granted a $100,000 bond and is the only suspect currently out of jail.

Mother says she was not permitted to speak at bond hearings

Copeland’s mother, Elizabeth Strodder, says she attended every bond hearing but was told she could not address the court, while the suspects’ family members were permitted to speak on their behalf.

“But to be told that I cannot speak during the bond hearing, but you’re allowing those who murdered my son, their family members to speak, give reason why their family members should be allowed out on bond… I felt like that was just a shock and a hurt to my family,” Strodder said.

She also says she was never notified that Elmore had been released and only learned he had bonded out after checking the jail roster.

“I don’t feel like all the individuals that were involved in the murder of my son should have been granted bonds based on the severity of what happened,” Strodder added.

Blood stain concern raised inside son’s apartment

Strodder shared emails with WTOC showing she flagged a possible blood stain she discovered inside her son’s apartment. A victim advocate told her the assistant district attorney believed the stain may have predated Copeland’s death.

Strodder says she is still waiting to meet with the assistant district attorney to discuss her concerns.

Mother learned of son’s death through social media

Strodder says the days following her son’s death brought confusion and unanswered questions. She told WTOC she learned of Copeland’s death through a social media post.

A witness had filmed his body at the scene.

Neighbors remember Copeland as quiet and friendly. One neighbor, Makyna Sparks-Lavely, says she heard the gunshots the day he was killed.

“I heard the shots like I said, tried to tell myself that wasn’t what I heard and then it wasn’t that many minutes later that I heard the sirens start up,” Sparks-Lavely said.