On Friday evening between 8:30 and 9:00p.m., James Donald Stoyle, Joshua Clint Coxwell, Stephen Ray Bedford, Terri Diane Young, and Mary Jean Lawson were involved in the process of making Meth in a bedroom of the residence located at 131 0akland Heights Road in Worth County when the chemicals involved in the process apparently reacted and an explosion occurred.
James Donald Stoyle was transported to Phoebe Worth Medical Center by a family member and was treated with burns covering 40 percent of his body before being transported to the Augusta Burn Center for further treatment. Joshua Coxwell and Terri Young also sustained burns to their bodies but did not seek treatment at Phoebe Worth. Instead, they left the hospital along with Mary Lawson and Stephen Bedford, and the group traveled to the Walmart in Tifton where they were spotted by Tifton Police after a lookout had been posted for the individuals by Worth County Sheriff’s office Drug Investigators.
The individuals were detained by Tifton officers until a Worth County Deputy could travel to the location and gather additional information from the suspects. Meanwhile, investigators and Worth County Fire Rescue personnel checked the scene of the incident on Oakland Heights Road.
Stephen Bedford, Terri Young and Mary Lawson were transported back to Worth County Jail and Charged with Manufacturing Meth. Joshua Coxwell was transported from the Walmart in Tifton by Tift EMS to Tift Regional Medical Center for treatment of the burns sustained to his body, however Mr. Coxwell refused treatment at the hospital and was released against medical advice. The incident is still under investigation by the Worth County Drug Unit. Several of the precursor chemicals along with other items used during the process of making meth were recovered from the location. Warrants are pending for Joshua Coxwell and Donald Stoyle along with at least one other individual who is not identified at this time but faces charges of manufacturing Meth as well.