Crime & Safety

New Charges for Lilburn Man Accused in Macon Murder

Police charge Stephen McDaniel with seven counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Stephen McDaniel, the Lilburn native accused in the brutal June murder of his Macon law-school classmate, faces new charges of sexual exploitation of children, according to the Macon Police Department.

According to a Macon PD press release, Police Chief Mike Burns and Bibb County District Attorney Greg Winters said warrants were signed Tuesday afternoon charging McDaniel with seven counts of sexual exploitation of children.

McDaniel, 25, a Parkview High School graduate, is already in the Bibb County jail, McDaniel is accused of killing Lauren Giddings, a fellow graduate of the Mercer University law school and his next-door neighbor.

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According to this report by the Macon Telegraph, investigators found a computer flash drive in McDaniel’s apartment that contained pornographic photos of boys and girls depicted in sexual acts with adults. Each count could carry a sentence of 5 to 20 years and a $100,000 fine.

McDaniel was charged earlier this month with Giddings’ murder. Giddings’ was reported missing June 25. Her torso was found wrapped in plastic in a trash bin next to her apartment building five days later.

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