As Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins, the Dalton Police Department announced on Monday, Oct. 3 that they had upgraded charges on 44-year-old Justin Kyle Pippin to include homicide after an alleged domestic violence incident on Thursday, Sept. 29 that has now left a Dalton woman dead. According to the DPD, 40-year-old Rachael Schaefer of 905 Liddell Street in Dalton passed away from her injuries on Monday morning while hospitalized at Hamilton Medical Center.
According to the DPD, police were dispatched to 905 Liddell Street #4 at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 to a report of a woman who was not breathing. Rachael Schaefer and Justin Pippen lived together at the residence. When officers arrived, they found Schaefer unresponsive suffering from unknown injuries. Officers and EMS rendered aid and Schaefer was taken to Hamilton Medical Center for treatment. Once at the hospital, it was determined that Schaefer’s injuries appeared to have been from being beaten.
The DPD says that Justin Pippen was on scene at the residence and had made the 911 call for medical assistance. After an investigation determined that Pippen was responsible for Schaefer’s injuries, Pippen was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and aggravated sexual battery. Pippen was taken to the Whitfield County Jail where he remains in custody. Schaefer passed away from her injuries Monday morning. After her death, investigators sought a homicide warrant for Pippen and that warrant was granted on Monday afternoon.
This incident is still being investigated.