A suspect in a Columbus murder case was recently arrested in Banks County.
A release from the Banks County Sheriff's Office said a Be On the Lookout was issued regarding Luke Mercardante, age 26 of Covington on Sunday. Later, a Banks County deputy reportedly spotted Mercardante driving on Interstate 85 between Ga. 63 and U.S. 441.
"Mercardante...fled and led deputies on a brief pursuit," the sheriff's office said. "During the pursuit, Mercardante exited at the 149 exit ramp (at U.S. 441) and tried to reenter on I-85 SB, but lost control of the vehicle and crashed on the 149 entrance ramp."
Mercardante was taken to a nearby hospital for what authorities called minor injuries and was then booked into the Banks County Detention Center.
A social media post by the Columbus Police Department indicated that Mercardante is wanted for the stabbing death of Abigail Cadoura, age 22, who was found dead in an apartment in Columbus Sunday evening. Mercardante and Cadoura were reportedly in what police described as an "on-and-off relationship."
As of Tuesday afternoon, Mercardante was held in the Banks County Detention Center without bond, awaiting extradition to Columbus on murder charges. He is also facing charges related to the chase and crash in Banks County.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/4/1290827/columbus-murder-suspect-arrested-in-banks-county