Georgia Woman Murdered After She Finds Out Her Boyfriend Secretly Married Another Woman. Boyfriend and His Wife are Arrested.

Atlanta native Briana Winston was reported missing by her family on April 1, 2024. Concerns grew worse when they realized that her apartment had been emptied and there were no traces of Winston anywhere. Then, things got worse. Winston's family found out that she hadn't reported to work weeks prior. The last person to possibly see her was her live-in boyfriend, and father of her child, Michale Edwards.

Police believe Winston vanished under suspicious circumstances on March 17 and began an exhaustive search for her. Sadly, that search did not have a happy ending. Her body was found hundreds of miles away.

According to WXIA, on Monday, May 6, the investigation moved to Tennessee and police began a search along a stretch of I-40 for Winston's remains. They eventually traveled to Gates, Tennessee, where police met a man who they believed would be able to give them some more information about Winston's last moments. The man, who is now immune from some charges for his alleged role in her death, told police that he helped Michale Edwards burn Winston's body and hide some of her skeletal remains. 

In March, Winston confronted Edwards with allegations that he'd married another woman in January. That argument is what lead to the deadly incident. 

"We tirelessly worked to figure out exactly what happened to Briana. The investigation led us to Tennessee, where we were able to get some answers. It left us some happiness but a lot of sorrow for Briana," said Lt. Ashanti Marbury with the Major Felony Unit at Clayton County Police. "It was not a crime that was committed in the heat of passion. There was malice. There was some intent there."

In April, Michale Edwards and his wife, Brienna Phillips-Edwards, were named persons of interest. Now, his wife is facing other charges and Edwards faces at least six felony charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. He is currently in custody at the Clayton County jail, according to records.

Edwards and his wife have an upcoming court date on June 5 at 8:30 a.m.

The Clayton County Police Department encourages anyone with information to come forward. Contact the department at 770-477-3747 with tips.