Jmaal Malik Keyes Case: Human Remains Found Near Suspect's Home

Human remains have been found near the home of Robert Kane Rolison, the 17-year-old Middle Georgia State College student who was arrested last week in connection with the death of a Hiram High School graduate.

The remains were found at a Hawkinsville site last week, and the GBI will run tests to see if they belong to Jmaal Malik Keyes, according to WMAZ-TV in Macon.

Middle Georgia State College campus police arrested Rolison, a dual-enrolled high school and Middle Georgia State student, Thursday night. He faces a charge of murder.

Keyes, a 19-year-old freshman from Austell, was reported missing more than two weeks ago after he visited his family in the Atlanta area.

WSB-TV reported last week that Keyes' family had lost contact with him since April 25, a few days after his sister drove him back to his college campus in Cochran.

Keyes' church in Austell, Destiny World Church, has been involved in the search of the missing student, and had put out a $3,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.

"Our church is saddened to learn of the report from Middle Georgia State College Campus Police regarding the disappearance of our parishioner Jmaal Keyes," the church's pastor Wilbur Purvis said in a letter. "We are disheartened by the news that another student has been arrested on murder charges."

Keyes has been a member of Destiny World Church for the past decade, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

FULL TEXT OF GBI STATEMENT

The State Crime Lab tested evidence submitted as part of the Jmaal Keyes death investigation and determined the evidence to be human remains.  The evidence was collected on Friday, May 10 on Cabero Road in Hawkinsville in an area adjacent to the residence of Robert Kane Rolison.  Rolison was charged with the murder of Jmaal Keyes on May 9.  DNA testing will be done on the remains to determine whether the remains are that of Jmaal Keyes. 

A first appearance hearing for Rolison was held on Sunday, May 12 in Bleckley County.  A date for the bond hearing has not been set.

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