Hull, Georgia – A Hull man has pleaded guilty to murder after strangling his stepbrother to death during a mental health episode nearly two years ago. Corey MacKenzie Pattman, 41, entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill for the March 14, 2022, slaying of Jermaine Brown, who was 41 years old at the time of his death.
According to Northern Circuit District Attorney Parks White, Pattman was deluded into believing that his stepbrother had his wife or girlfriend hidden in the attic of his home. This delusion led him to break into his brother’s home on Garnett Ward Road and confront Brown, resulting in a struggle that ended with Pattman using a wire from a stereo system to strangle his stepbrother to death.
Superior Court Judge Jeff Malcom imposed a life sentence on Pattman, who will be evaluated and enter a mental health treatment program in the state’s prison system. However, he will not be eligible for parole until after 30 years.
At the time of Brown’s death, he was suffering from an illness that caused him to become excessively weak and also caused his hands and feet to swell, according to his family. He had been released from a hospital only two weeks before he was killed. Brown’s body was found by his father, who went to check on him after Pattman came to his parents’ home and reported that there was a dead man in his stepbrother’s house.
Assistant District Attorney Jeff Lee, who negotiated the plea, was prepared to take the case to trial next week, said White. The tragic incident has left the community in mourning, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and support.
In conclusion, Corey MacKenzie Pattman pleaded guilty to murdering his stepbrother in a tragic case that highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support. The incident resulted in a life sentence for Pattman, who will undergo a mental health treatment program in the state’s prison system. Jermaine Brown’s untimely death serves as a sobering reminder of the impact of mental health issues on individuals and their families.