Murder Suspect Turns Himself in at RaceTrac in Loganville

Gwinnett Police charged , of Buford, in connection with the murder of his sister after he turned himself in to authorities at the RaceTrac in Loganville.

said it was Loganville firefighters who first responded to a call from 911 at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday because they were already at the location.

“We got a call from dispatch that there was an overdose at the RaceTrac, but nobody inside the store knew anything about it,” Roberts said. “When they came outside, they found a man lying spreadeagled on the ground with a cell phone in front of him. When they approached to see if he was alright or needed help, he just said he needed a cop and he wanted to go to jail.”

Roberts said Gwinnett County police arrived and took over, advising members of the LFD they could leave.

“He told the Gwinnett police the same thing, that he needed a cop to take him to jail,” Roberts said. “They placed him in handcuffs at that time.”

Gwinnett County Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said it wasn’t Puckett himself who called authorities, but someone who called on his behalf.

“I believe he did say that he would wait there at the RaceTrac for police to arrive, but he didn’t actually make the call himself,” Smith said. “I believe he was threatening to kill himself, but he did say he had killed somebody and would wait for police and turn himself in.”

Puckett is accused in the beating death of his 54-year-old sister, Vickie Bowles. Gwinnett police discovered her body Wednesday during a welfare check in the 300 Block of Powers Avenue in Buford where she and her brother shared a residence. Police reported finding signs of violence and blunt force trauma about her body. Smith said he doesn’t believe it was Puckett who called authorities requesting a welfare check at the location.

Puckett was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center after 8 p.m. March 7 and charged with felony murder and felony aggravated assault. He is currently being held without bond.