Chattanooga Police have charged a Chattanooga woman with the murder of Bethel Guines.
Januari Williams, 26, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of especially aggravated robbery.
She was arrested on Friday, and according to a police report she made a confession and identified a man who was also allegedly involved. No charges have apparently yet been filed against Demetrius Bailey.
Januari Williams said she was with Mr. Guines in his vehicle at her residence at 137 Elena Dr. She said they drove to Camden Street, where they picked up Bailey. She said the intent was to rob the 69-year-old Guines.
She said she and Bailey "had robbed people together in the past."
The report says when Bailey got into the vehicle, he found Mr. Guines' 9mm pistol in the back seat. It says Bailey at gunpoint made Bethel Guines drive them around while they were demanding cash and searching the vehicle for cash and valuables.
It says they had him drive to the 800 block of Line Street in Brainerd.
The report says Mr. Guines "told them he had no cash to give them, so he was shot and killed."
It says Bailey put the body in the passenger side front seat of the vehicle and fled the scene. Ms. Williams then dumped the body and fled in his vehicle.
While driving on South Street, she threw the gun out of the window. She parked the vehicle in the driveway of an abandoned duplex at 802 Moss St.
Ms. Williams then returned to where the body was to retrieve her purse that had fallen out of the vehicle while she was getting the body out.
She then fled the scene. She put her clothing into a dumpster at the Golden Gallon at the intersection of Amnicola Highway and Appling Street.
Police said Ms. Williams has given a recorded statement and also accompanied officers along the route of the crime.
A motorist driving in the 800 block of Line Street found Bethel Guines's clothed body around 7 a.m. on Thursday. The victim had been shot in the head and tossed in a wooded area by the street.
The victim's red Chevrolet SUV was found in the yard of a vacant duplex on Moss Street.
Mr. Guines was known by many as a frequent bowler at the Holiday Bowl on Brainerd Road.
He delivered food five days a week for the Meals On Wheels program. He had been set to make his deliveries on Thursday morning, but did not show up.
Mr. Guines was born July 2, 1935, in Chattanooga to the late James Guines and Irene Suttles. He graduated from Hill High School in LaFayette, Ga., and also served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Guines retired from TVA as a laborer steward and worked for the community neighborhood program Meals on Wheels. He was also a member of several bowling associations in the Tri-State area.
Mr. Guines is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Mobley Guines; three daughters, Kellie Bridgeman, Monica Armour and Bethea Guines, all of Chattanooga; his brother, James Guines of Palm Coast, Fla.; six grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be noon Tuesday at Franklin-Strickland Funeral Directors on McCallie Avenue with the Rev. J.R. Bridgeman officiating.
Januari Williams is due in General Sessions Court on Jan. 28.