Updated: Gwinnett Native Charged in Macon Murder

Updated at 8:42 p.m.

A Lilburn native has been charged in the grisly murder of his fellow Mercer University Law School graduate Lauren Giddings, according to the Macon Telegraph.

Stephen Mark McDaniel, 25, appeared in Bibb County Magistrate Court Wednesday afternoon. He is accused in the killing and dismemberment of Giddings, his next-door neighbor at a Macon apartment building. Giddings had been reported missing on June 25. On June 30, police found her torso wrapped in plastic in a garbage bin next to the apartment building.

At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Macon Police Chief Mike Burns, said the evidence in the case pointed to one suspect, but did not give specifics, according to this Macon Telegraph report.

Also Wednesday, ajc.com reported that the Parkview High School graduate's mother told WSB-TV that her son didn't do it.

McDaniel had been in the Bibb County jail for the past month on burglary charges.

According to the Macon newspaper’s report, McDaniel was served with the murder warrant around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

“He didn’t say a thing,” Bibb County District Attorney Greg Winters told the newspaper late Tuesday. “It’s at the point now since there has been an arrest that I won’t make much of a comment.”

Check back with Patch for updates.