Redrum

A message was sent out through the UGA Alert system on Saturday around 2:00 pm. The message alerted students and faculty of a triple homicide that occurred in Athens early Saturday afternoon. Put in place for just this kind of incident, the UGA Alert has thankfully only be used previously to announce incliment weather and prank reports.

Since that time, police have been searching for University of Georgia business professor George Zinkhan in connection with the shootings. Although it is unlikely that Zinkhan will return to the UGA campus, the University is not willing to take that risk and has bolstered security along with awareness of Zinkhan's situation.

More likely, he has fled the city and possibly the country. Apparently, he owned homes around the country and abroad, including one in Amsterdam. Some suspect that he could have boarded a plane destined for the Netherlands where he taught part time.

Based on the lack of monitored credit card or passport activity, many others believe that Zinkhan could have taken his own life after fleeing the scene. Whatever the theory, police still have no leads.

Regardless, classes at the University and life around Athens will continue to function as normal, just with added precaution. These precautions include constant armed-officials on patrol around campus and the occasional helicopter overhead that serves as a constant reminder to everyone to be on the lookout.

Victims of the shootings include Zinkhan's wife, Marie Bruce, and Ben Teague and Thomas Cole Tanner, all members of the Town and Gown players, a local theatrical company. The incident occurred outside Athens Community Theater in downtown Athens where the comany was putting on a function.

Following the alledged murders, Zinkhan drove his two children, aged 8 and 10, to a friend's house in nearby Bogart. He asked the friend to watch the kids while he dealt with an emergency.

There is no great change in the attitude of the town and it may be some time before the true weight of the murders sets in. For the meantime, let's us watch and wait for the person responsible to be apprehended.