Murder charge dropped against Savannah man in 2024 homeless camp killing

by Madalyn Bierster

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Murder charges have been dropped for a homeless man in Savannah accused of killing a woman at a homeless camp in 2024.

Police say, Stephanie Neal, 34, was shot and killed in March of that year. She was found in the 700 block of Wheaton Street around 2:30 a.m. and later died at the hospital.

A month later, police arrested Lucious Young Jr. and charged him with Neal’s murder. The case had been working its way through the court system ever since.

On Monday, June 29, prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges against Young. According to court records, the State “has been unable to locate a material witness and cannot prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt without said witness.”

As a result, the charges were dismissed, and the case has been closed with no further prosecution.