UPDATE – APPLING (WJBF) – In the case of 15-year-old Tucker Gales, of Appling, Superior Court Judge J. Wade Padgett has signed a signature bond for the pre-trial release of the juvenile, who has been charged by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office as an adult in the murder of his father.

That signed order is being sent to Columbia County Jail for the 15-year-old’s immediate release, pending trial.

Last night, Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a home on Gales Road, where Tucker Gales’ father, 66-year-old Wesley Jordan Gales, was discovered on the back porch with a bullet wound to the head.

Tucker Gales was interviewed and admitted to shooting his father with a .22-caliber Marlin rifle. During the interview, the juvenile Gales told investigators that “he had enough of his father abusing his mother.”

The deceased, Wesley Jordan Gales, was arrested in March 2020 and plea guilty to domestic abuse and third degree child cruelty charges during the trial in May. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 months of probation on misdemeanor charges.

District Attorney Natalie Paine confirmed to WJBF that her office has consented to a signature bond in this specific case. This would allow Gales to return to his home without cash bail being set; it is also known as a recognizance bond.

Gales will stand trial as an adult in the homicide of his father, 66-year-old Wesley Jordan Gales.

APPLING (WJBF) – Columbia County Deputies responded to a 911 call in Appling around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night. That call was initially described as a CPR in progress.

A second call from 3353 Gales Road provided county dispatchers with the information that there was “blood everywhere”.

Once on scene, deputies found a man on the back porch that had been shot in the head.

The victim, who lived at the home, was 66-year-old, Wesley Jordan Gales.

Deputies found his former wife, Deborah Gales, at the house as well as their 15-year-old son, Tucker Gales.

Wesley-Jordan-gales
Wesley Jordan Gales

Deputies separated the mother and son and heard spontaneous utterances which indicated that Mr. Gales had been shot by Tucker.

The son was interviewed and admitted to shooting his father with a .22 caliber Marlin semiautomatic rifle.

Tucker Gales was charged with Murder and transported to RYDC.

The 15-year-old told investigators that he had enough of his father abusing his mother.

He will be charged as an adult.

NewsChannel 6 has learned Wesley Jordan Gales previously had an arrest on March 10, which was later tried in court as battery (family violence) and cruelty to children in third degree. 

This is a developing story.

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