Will Cortez Robinson and Robert Silva Jr., both of Atlanta, are in custody at the Fulton County Jail, Lt. Jay Baker said.
Robinson, 24, and Silva, 22, will be transported to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, where they are expected to be held without bond on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and kidnapping with bodily injury.
The latest arrests stem from March 4 when the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama pulled over a gold 2004 Mercury Sable heading west on Interstate 20 around 4 p.m. during a routine traffic stop.
Cleburne County Deputy Lance Willingham said the driver, Melvin Floyd of Atlanta, had suspicious body language and was unable to identify the car’s owner, leading Willingham began to search the vehicle. In the trunk of the car, he said he found a beaten man identified as Lyndon Baines Smith.
Smith, 46, of Gadsden, Ala., was transported to University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., where he was treated for multiple facial and rib fractures, Baker said. Floyd, 22, was taken into custody in Cleburne County.
Cleburne County authorities told Cherokee officials Smith was attacked in the BridgeMill subdivision, where he was visiting family members, then driven across state lines in the trunk of his own vehicle. Evidence obtained through a search warrant confirmed the claims.
Smith was visiting his teen son and a former girlfriend in the BridgeMill community when he was jumped by several individuals and beaten at the residence before being placed in the trunk of his own car.
“He was jumped by as many as four people and the next thing he knew he woke up in the hospital in Alabama,” said Maj. Ron Hunton, head of criminal investigations for the sheriff’s office.
According to an arrest affidavit, the “accused continued to kick victim after he lost consciousness,” and Floyd kicked Smith so hard, he “maliciously caused bodily harm to the person by seriously disfiguring him.”
On March 8, Floyd was returned to Cherokee County on charges of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and theft of motor vehicle, according to investigators.
Floyd was released from the Cherokee Adult Detention Center on March 17 on $88,800 bond, Baker said Friday.
Baker said investigators have yet to establish a definitive motive for the crime, but it appears all of the suspects in the case are acquaintances with Smith’s two sons who live in BridgeMill. Baker added all of the suspects do not necessarily know the victim.
Both Smith’s teen son and his former girlfriend have yet to be located since Smith was rescued, Baker said.
Initially, the gold-colored 2004 Mercury Sable in which the victim was found was processed for fingerprints. Cherokee County law enforcement officials were hoping fingerprints on the trunk would help lead them to additional arrests and a possible motive. Baker said the suspects were established through victim and witness interviews.
Despite the injuries, Smith is expected to make a full recovery, Baker said, noting he may have to have more facial surgeries.
“The incident remains under investigation and additional arrests are possible,” Baker said Friday.
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