The man who was killed by a train in south Gainesville recently had murdered another man earlier that day at a local motel, police said Wednesday.
“On August 17th, police responded to Haven Inn & Suites for a welfare check,” Gainesville Police spokesman Kevin Holbrook said. “Police found Wade Hitcher, 60 of California, deceased from apparent blunt force trauma. During the course of the investigation, police identified Keith Bryant, 39 of Gainesville as the perpetrator in the case.”
Subsequently, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office was working the death investigation of Bryant. Bryant was struck and killed by a train the same day. Authorities said it appeared Bryant killed Hitcher then killed himself by deliberately walking into the path of the train.