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More than a year later, Wesley McKinnon entered a blind plea of guilty to three counts of homicide after a police chase from Lee County led to a fatal crash in Fairfax. The crash claimed the lives of McKinnon’s passenger and two others in the struck vehicle. 

Sentencing for McKinnon will be held later this month. 

“I’m glad that he’s been taken off the streets. He’s no longer a threat to the public,” said Valley Police Chief Mike Reynolds. “Of course, we have our condolences for the families of victims that he took from them, and just hoping that when he gets sentenced later, they’ll throw the book at him, and he’ll never see the light of day again.”

On Dec. 28, 2023, Aron Haynes, 98, of Valley, and Regina Rutledge, 64, of Lanett, were critically injured when the 2005 Nissan Altima was struck by McKinnon. An 18-year-old juvenile riding with McKinnon was transported to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead. 

McKinnon entered a guilty plea for multiple charges, including three counts of homicide and attempting to elude on April 30 in the Chambers County Courthouse. He was also charged with stolen property as the vehicle in the car crash had been reported stolen. 

Before the crash, McKinnon was attempting to elude law enforcement. The pursuit began in Lee County on I-85 when a sheriff’s deputy identified the 2018 Kia Forte as stolen. The vehicle had been reported stolen at gunpoint in Union Springs.

In the pursuit, McKinnon led the deputies off I-85 at exit 77 in Valley. There, the Valley Police Department responded, joining the chase. 

McKinnon collided with the Nissan Altima on U.S. 29 near the 205-mile marker within the city limits of Valley, not long after. Rutledge and Haynes were transported to local hospitals, where both later succumbed to their injuries.