COBB COUNTY, GA — A Stone Mountain man is facing charges in a multi-state investigation after authorities say he targeted homes connected to highly publicized tragedies, including the North Carolina home of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Terrell Williams burglarized Biffle’s home after the NASCAR driver and several members of his family were killed in a plane crash last December.
“On January 8, our deputies responded to Biffle residence after the burglary was reported. Numerous items were stolen, including multiple firearms, NASCAR memorabilia, gold and silver coins, and cash in excess of $30,000,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
Campbell says investigators believe Williams used news headlines and social media to identify homes that would be unoccupied.
“The way he operated from what we’re seeing is basically he used headlines, social media posts, different things to find out when people were and were not at home,” Campbell said.
Williams is also charged in connection with a burglary at a home on Laurel Creek Trail in Cobb County last month. Police say the break-in happened about a week after Kirk Wrzesien allegedly shot and killed his wife, Sheetal Wrzesien, and injured their son at the home.
Sheetal Wrzesien had worked as a top engineering executive at Google and Home Depot. A security camera captured Williams inside the home, according to police.
Campbell says the Cobb County investigation provided a significant break in the North Carolina case.
“This significant break came when Cobb County Police Department in Georgia, contacted our office in regards to Terrell Williams who had been arrested in connection to a separate residential burglary, which was a highly publicized homicide case,” Campbell said.
Authorities say Flock cameras helped track Williams to Georgia. North Carolina investigators also recovered several valuable items allegedly taken from the Biffle home, including NASCAR memorabilia and gold and silver coins.
“Based on the totality of the evidence developed to date, Williams has been charged with multiple felonies, including second degree burglary, safe crack, and money laundering,” Campbell said.
Campbell says investigators believe Williams is connected to other break-ins and robberies across the country.
“Williams is accused of targeting an unoccupied residence associated with highly publicized homicides and other cases. Our detectives believe that those circumstances gave them a pattern of conduct that could be relevant to other law enforcement agencies throughout the country,” Campbell said.
Williams remains in the Cobb County Jail and is expected to be extradited to North Carolina after his case in metro Atlanta is completed.