ST. MARY’S, GA – Two men from Georgia have been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of a homeless man, whose body was discovered tied and submerged in a local lake, authorities confirmed this week.
In July 2023, John Andrew Mamph, 29, was living in a tent community known as “Gilligan’s Island” when he faced a brutal attack, investigators reported. Allegedly, a group involving three to four people was behind the assault.
Following the violent encounter, Mamph was taken to a boat ramp, placed in a boat, and transported out on a lake while restrained, according to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney. Weighted down with heavy objects, Mamph was thrown overboard to ensure he wouldn’t survive.
Frank Kennedy, 56, and Anthony Mistretta, 29, were recently found guilty by a jury for their involvement. They were convicted on multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and battery. Kennedy received an additional conviction for aggravated assault.
The sentencing was pronounced immediately after their conviction, underscoring the severity of their crimes.
Mamph’s body was uncovered the following day, just past noon when a local discovered it while jet-skiing with his family. The witness observed the body submerged beneath the water’s surface, anchored by weights, and promptly alerted authorities.
Details from the police report reveal Mamph was found at the lake’s bottom, tied to a cinder block with additional weights, such as aluminum roofing and a bag of rocks, secured to his body. This gruesome discovery was described as a spectacle rather than an attempt at concealment.
Charges were levied against a total of five individuals in connection to Mamph’s death. Prior to Kennedy’s and Mistretta’s trial, three others involved pleaded guilty to various charges.
Debra Leane Dougherty, 38, admitted to one count of felony murder and accepted a life sentence with parole eligibility after 30 years. Bernice Rose McGuire, 27, confessed to conspiring to commit aggravated assault and awaits sentencing. Megan Leigh Robison, 34, who initially misled investigators, received five years of probation after pleading guilty to making a false statement.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting a chilling, premeditated act against a vulnerable individual in the community.