Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in Deadly Fannin County Teen Shooting Case

FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Supreme Court of Georgia has upheld the murder conviction of a North Georgia man in connection with a 2018 deadly shooting in Fannin County involving multiple teenage suspects.

Stephan Blake Dickey, also known as Blake Dye, was convicted of malice murder and other charges in the shooting death of 33-year-old Justin McKinney and the wounding of Anna Franklin.

The case stems from an early morning incident at a home in Morganton, where investigators said Dickey and three other teens carried out an attack that left one person dead and another injured. Authorities said the suspects were juveniles at the time, with Dickey and two others reported to be 15 years old.

Prosecutors said at trial that Dickey and the others planned to rob and kill the victims before going to the home. According to court records, Dickey later confessed to investigators, admitting he shot McKinney during the incident.

On appeal, Dickey’s attorneys argued the confession should not have been used, claiming he did not fully understand or voluntarily waive his rights during questioning.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court rejected that argument, finding that under the totality of the circumstances, Dickey was properly advised of his rights and chose to speak with investigators.

Justices noted Dickey acknowledged understanding his rights, was not threatened or coerced, and gave his statement voluntarily. The court also determined that factors such as his age, the absence of a parent during questioning, and a brief delay in allowing a restroom break did not invalidate the confession.

As a result, the court affirmed the trial court’s decision to admit the confession into evidence and upheld Dickey’s convictions and life sentence.

Four teens were initially arrested in connection with the 2018 shooting. In addition to Dickey, those charged included Hunter Hill, Dalton Manuel, and Lakota Cloer.

Hill was also convicted of malice murder and related charges and has filed a similar appeal. He is currently serving his sentence at Phillips State Prison. Manuel was convicted of aggravated assault and other charges and is incarcerated at Walker State Prison. Cloer was also convicted of aggravated assault and is currently on parole.

The ruling reinforces how courts evaluate confessions from juveniles, focusing on the full context of an interview rather than any single factor in determining whether a statement was given voluntarily.