Sparks man found murdered

By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter

TIFTON May 09, 2009 08:06 pm

— A 72-year-old Sparks man who owned a game room was found dead by family members summoned to the business Friday night. The GBI is considering the man’s death a homicide.
James “Buster” Statum of Sparks owned Buster’s Game Room. At approximately 7:53 p.m. Friday, Cook County and Sparks Police were called to the game room at 305 Adams St. where Statum’s body was discovered inside the building. According to a press release from the GBI office in Atlanta, an investigator with the Douglas GBI office was called in and is assisting investigators with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Sparks Police Department on the case.
The cause of death will be determined during an autopsy which is set for Monday at the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta. As of press time there had been no one arrested for Statum’s murder and the motive fwas unknown.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.