Habersham men indicted on murder, other charges

CLARKESVILLE – A Habersham County Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted two men in the death of 62-year-old Cornelia resident Michael Larry Hill in late August.

The five-count indictment against Albert Buford Brown, 35, of Mt. Airy, and William Douglas Downer, 50, of Clarkesville, was recorded at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Count 1 accuses Brown and Downer of malice murder for causing the death of Hill by striking him in the head with a baseball bat on or about Aug. 29.

Count 2 accuses Brown and Downer of felony murder for causing the death of Hill by striking him in the head with a baseball bat on or about Aug. 29 while in the commission of felony burglary.

Count 3 is armed robbery by the use of a baseball bat, “an offensive weapon,” to take rings and a weed trimmer from Hill in his presence.

Count 4 accuses Brown and Downer of burglary by entering the home of Hill in Cornelia.

Count 5 accuses Brown and Downer of aggravated assault by causing serious injury to Hill by striking him in the head with a baseball bat.

Hill was reported missing after last being heard from on Aug. 28.