Eric Charles Stewart

CHATSOWORTH, Ga. — A man released Thursday from the Gordon County jail was arrested the next day for murder and concealing a death in Murray County, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Eric Charles Stewart, 26, of 126 Harmony Drive in Calhoun, was charged Friday with murder and concealing the death of another.

On Friday, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Calhoun office to assist in a murder investigation in the death of Donnie Charles.

At about 8:30 a.m. Friday, the Murray County 911 Center was contacted about Charles being found behind his home at 1263 Sexton Road in Resaca. During a search of the property near Charles’ home, a campsite was located with bloody items belonging to both Charles and Stewart. Witnesses stated that Stewart had been camping behind Charles’ home. Stewart was released from the Gordon County Jail on Thursday.

At about 11:15 a.m., Murray County Sheriff Gary Langford and Chief Deputy Jimmy Davenport apprehended Stewart. He was not far from the campsite and murder scene.

Charles’ body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy on Saturday. The results are pending. This joint investigation remains active and ongoing.