The events leading up to the mysterious deaths of a couple at Golden Coach Inn on Thanksgiving Day likely began nine days earlier — and 325 miles away — in Marietta, Georgia.
The investigation into the deaths of Jessie Lee Jr., 37, and his wife, Ditrena McIntyre Lee, 36, is continuing, said Greenwood Police Chief Ray Moore.
Police found the couple shortly before 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day in their hotel room. Autopsies are to be performed at the state Crime Lab in Jackson.
There were no physical signs of trauma to either of the Lees. However, officers found numerous medications in the room with them. The department is awaiting a toxicology report to determine if the couple died from drug overdoses, the chief said.
The situation with Jessie Lee, who is originally from Greenwood, became serious on Nov. 18 in Marietta, according to Officer David Auld, a public information officer with the Marietta Police Department.
A juvenile who lived with him made an allegation of child abuse, Auld said. Officers from the Marietta Police Department and officials with the Cobb County Department of Family and Children’s Services went to Lee’s house at 1311 Banberry Road in Marietta.
Lee and his wife were not at home, but officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence.
After securing a search warrant, officers entered the home and found a “grow house” containing some 300 marijuana plants along with a handgun.
Auld said he has only seen one or two grow houses as big as the one discovered at Lee’s residence.
He said after the raid, Lee was never heard from again.
Auld said Lee was facing serious charges in Georgia, including:
- Manufacturing marijuana;
- Cruelty to children;
- Trafficking in marijuana;
- False imprisonment;
- Possession of a firearm by a felon;
- Aggravated assault;
- Distributing marijuana;
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The child who made the initial allegations against Lee is probably in protective custody with the Cobb County Department of Family and Children’s Services, Auld said.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said that sometime Thursday morning, Lee posted on Facebook that he and his wife were going to take their lives because they didn’t want to go to prison. The posting made the rounds Thursday and Friday morning. McAdams said the posting has since been taken down.
Moore could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
- Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
