Life Plus 20 Years in Prison for Convicted Murderer

A Cartersville man is set to spend life in prison after a Bartow County trial jury found him guilty of murder, aggravated battery and other charges in a February 2012 incident law enforcement officers and prosecutors described as "bloody."

Herbert Eberhardt Drews, then 48, was arrested in connection with the home-invasion robbery of James David "Lucky" Ayers, 70, who sustained multiple stab wounds and died several days after the Feb. 5, 2012, incident. Drews also was accused of stabbing another man, Troyce Warren, who had been sleeping on the porch of Ayers' Joe Frank Harris Parkway home in Cartersville.

Drews had moved out of Ayers' home near a Highway 41 flea market three months prior to the stabbings—due to a disagreement—and had returned that night to get his dog and jacket, reports The Daily Tribune News. Ayers was stabbed nine times and afterward suffered two strokes; he died from complications of the stab wounds.

Witnesses to the incident told police Drews entered the home about 10 p.m., stole money and after stabbing Ayers, attacked Warren, who also was stabbed, but was able to subdue Drews until police arrived.

Warren testified that Drews slashed his chin and stabbed him in the shoulder and leg during a fight that didn't stop until police arrived, the Tribune reported.

"I beat him as much as I could and as hard as I could,” Warren told the jury, according to the newspaper.

Both Drews and Warren were taken to Cartersville Medical Center, where they were treated for their injuries and released. Ayers was taken to Floyd Medical Center, where he died the Thursday after the Sunday stabbing.

Drews' trial started Monday and the jury reached its verdict at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, apparently after nearly a full day of deliberations, District Attorney Rosemary Greene said in a press release.

Jurors found Drews guilty of each charge in the 8-count indictment, which included:

• Two counts of malice murder against victim Ayers,
• Two counts of felony murder against victim Ayers,
• Two counts of aggravated battery of a person older than 65 against Ayers and
• Aggravated battery and aggravated assault against victim Warren. 

Superior Court Judge G. Carey Nelson III sentenced Drews to life in prison for Ayers' murder and another 20 years for the attack on Warren, for a total of life plus 20 years.

Prosecutors Erle Newton and Jana Allen represented the state of Georgia and defense attorneys James Wyatt and Ashley Petty represented Drews. Nelson on Monday denied Drews' request to serve as co-counsel in the trial, the Tribune reported.                                     

His attorneys maintained Drews had no recollection of incident because he was beaten so badly, but had arrived that night to find an altercation already in progress, according to the newspaper. 

• Stabbing Becomes a Homicide Case
• 2 Stabbed, 1 Critical in Bloody Robbery