Stroud Man Charged for Murder of Coweta County Fire Chief

On Monday, William Randall Franklin was charged by Chambers County Sheriff’s Department after being extradited from Gerogia for the murder of Coweta County Fire Battalion Chief James Cauthen in an incident that transpired on January 19th in the Stroud community on County Road 267

According to authorities, Cauthen was attempting to assist a driver who had struck a deer in a collision.

Per investigators, Franklin, who lives in the area, opened fire on Cauthen and the driver of the vehicle while they were walking to a neighbors house for help.  Cauthen would sucomb to injuries sustained prior to first responders arriving on the scene. died at the scene.

Franklin is currently being held in the Chambers County Detention Facility without bond.