Georgia Teen Sentenced to Life for Fatally Shooting 15-Year-Old Girl in Her Bedroom

A Georgia teenager has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Madison Gesswein in her bedroom last year. Madison was killed in her Peachtree City, Georgia home on February 21, 2023, according to the Peachtree City Police Department. Authorities quickly arrested Justus Smith, Jacobean Brown, and Yeshua Mathis, all 18 years old, in connection with her murder.

On Tuesday, July 6, Fayette County authorities announced that Jacobean Brown had been found guilty of Madison’s murder, as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Citizen. Prosecutors revealed that Madison had an argument with the three defendants the night before the murder, with text messages between them serving as key evidence in the case.

On the night of the murder, while Madison was in bed, Brown reportedly sneaked into her bedroom through a window and shot her in the head with a pistol he had brought with him, according to evidence presented in court. Authorities also revealed that Brown, along with Smith and Mathis, had allegedly brought cleaning supplies with them to the home, indicating a premeditated plan, as noted by the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The following morning, Madison’s mother discovered her daughter in a pool of blood and called 911, according to records cited by 11 Alive at the time. Smith and Mathis are scheduled to stand trial in September, according to court records reviewed by WSB-TV. While a specific motive for the crime has not been officially announced, police have stated that Madison knew her killer and the other two defendants.

The tragic murder has shocked the Peachtree City community, with the case highlighting the devastating impact of youth violence. Brown’s life sentence serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of such heinous acts.