On June 17, 2018, at around 10:00p.m., Deputies were dispatched to the Navicent in reference to a man reported to have been the victim of a pedestrian involved “hit and run”.
When deputies arrived at the hospital, they met with the family members of 55-year-old Jeffery Burke. The family members told deputies that some Burke’s friends drove him home and told his family that Burke fell and hit his head on a truck, he a was victim of a “hit and run”. An ambulance was called and Burke was then transported to the hospital. The hospital staff contacted the Sheriff’s Office in reference to the reported incident. Burke was unconscious and could not speak with deputies about what happened. Burke was placed in the Nero ICU.
On June 21, 2018, deputies were called back to the Navicent by victim Jeffery Burke. He stated that he just woke up from being unconscious. He told deputies that he was not a victim of a “hit and run”, as some of his friends originally stated to his family, he was a victim of an assault.
Burke stated that he was at a “Father’s Day” cook out that was taking place at 330 Astor Street, He stated that he was struck from behind and knocked unconscious and beaten.
Through the course of the investigation, 31-year-old James Christopher Patterson was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault, in connection the incident with Burke. He was arrested on June 24, 2018 and bonded out of jail on August 31, 2018 on a $20,550. , bond.
Burke was released from the hospital and passed away on September 9, 2018.
An autopsy was performed by the GBI Crime Lab and the results concluded, on December 12, 2018 that Burke died as a result of Homicide. Bibb Sheriff’s Investigators swore out warrants for Patterson’s arrest in connection to the death of Jeffery Burke.
Members of the U.S. Marshal’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Patterson at an apartment, located in Gordon, Georgia. Patterson was arrested without incident and transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Complex. Patterson is currently being held, without bond, for the charge of Murder.