Floyd County Police have released a statement regarding the arrest of a Rome man accused of deceiving a woman on Terhune Road on January 23rd.

The woman, 71-year-old Myra Reeves and her husband, 69-year-old James Reeves, were found dead later that day of gunshot wounds.

Emerson Mack Abbott Jr. was arrested Wednesday and charged with Theft by Deception, Theft by Conversion and Making False Statements and Writings. The arrest follows an investigation into a check purportedly written by Myra Reeves to Mr. Abbott.

The statement read, “At this time this investigation is considered as a dual investigation to the murder of James and Myra Reeves. Due to the importance and the complexity of this investigation no other information can be released at this time.”

A dual investigation means there are two ongoing investigations that are separate but have common connections, according to Floyd County Police Chief Bill Shiflett.

According to a Floyd County Jail report, 27-year-old Emerson Mack Abbott, Jr. of 7 Terhune Road received $7,500 for labor and equipment from Myra Reeves for contract work on January 23.

The report states Abbott never showed up and did not have any intention to do the job.

(WRGA/www.wrgarome.com)