The remains found at a crime scene off Mulberry Road have been identified as that of Tina Walkingstick Frizsell, 42, of Mountain City, Georgia, and formerly of Cherokee.
Frizsell’s half-brother reported her as missing on May 19, saying he had not seen her since March 22. An investigation led law enforcement to two crime scenes – a shed on S. Tryphosa Road, where Frizsell was allegedly shot, and property off Mulberry Road, where it was reported she was burned and buried.
Christopher Shields, 44, of Otto, will face charges of first-degree murder, destroying human remains, felony conspiracy to commit murder, concealing a death and possession of a firearm by a felon. (Shields pleaded guilty to felony fraud impersonation on March 2, 2007, in Garfield County, Colorado.)
Following his arrest on May 20, Shields was charged with five counts kidnapping, three counts assault by pointing a gun, assault and battery and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Sheriff Robert Holland said Shields had not been served warrants yet on the murder indictment and related charges because he had been transferred to Raleigh Central Prison for safekeeping. “He became a problem in our facility,” Holland said.
Shields is on the Aug. 11 District Court docket for the kidnapping, assault, and possession of a firearm charges, however Holland said with the additional charges, the case will be moved from District Court to Superior Court.
Kidnapped and shot
After reporting his sister missing, Justus said Norman Peterman had told a friend that Frizsell had been shot at Shields’ residence. Frizsell had lived at Peterman’s residence on Wallalieu Road in Otto.
The kidnapping and murder stems from a made-up story that Shields’ girlfriend had been killed, chopped up and burned. However, Sheriff Holland said Shields’ girlfriend is alive, and they have been in contact with her during the investigation.
During an interview on May 26, Crystal Chastain McFarland told investigators that Shields had kidnapped her and Frizsell from Peterman’s house on May 15 and took them to a shed on his property on Tryphosa Road. Another woman, Angie Ledford, was already in the shed.
When detectives were at Smith’s Tryphosa Road residence on May 20, Ledford told detectives that Shields shot Frizsell on May 16 and the body had been left on the shed floor for two days. Ledford also asked detectives to help her leave “because she was afraid for life.”
Jessica Smith told detectives she was at the shed on May 18 and saw a female body lying on the floor and blood was coming from underneath the body. She assumed it was Frizsell because Shields thought Frizsell had killed his girlfriend. According to search warrant documents, McFarland had told Shields that his girlfriend had been killed.
Ledford told detectives the body was moved from the shed to property on Mulberry Road, and that Smith and Derek McCrackin were forced to help burn the body.
During a search of Shields’ truck, detectives found shovels and a black flip flop that matched the description of what Frizsell was last seen wearing. Detectives filed search warrants for the property off Mulberry Road belonging to Bashey Arizona B. McCracken, which is where they found the human remains.
More charges filed
Now that the remains have been identified, Holland said additional charges will be filed against the other suspects as well.
• Derek McCrackin, 27, of Clayton, is being held in Rabun County, after being arrested on May 23 and charged with desecration of a corpse. He will now face charges of accessory after the fact in first degree murder, concealing a death, destroying human remains and felony conspiracy to commit murder. Holland said McCrackin is fighting extradition but will be brought back to Macon County and charged.
• Jessica Smith, 31, of Clayton, will face charges of accessory after the fact of first-degree murder, concealing a death, destroying human remains, and conspiracy to commit murder. Smith turned herself in to authorities on May 23 and was charged with first degree kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and disturb/desecration of human remains.
Smith allegedly held Chastain at knifepoint on May 19 and would not let her leave the house where they were. Smith is being held at the Macon County Detention Center. Smith is on the District Court docket for Aug. 11, but her case will be moved to Superior Court.
• Lenor Lenoka Wilson, 42, of Otto, will face charges of two counts of conspiracy to commit first degree kidnapping (Frizsell and Ledford). Wilson reportedly guarded the shed to prevent the women from leaving. She was arrested on May 24 and is being held at the Macon County Detention Center