TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested two individuals and is actively searching for a third suspect in connection with the July death of a Tifton man whose body was found inside a burning vehicle.

Robert Louis Brown, 41, and Aiyah Foster, 25, both of Tifton, are in custody. Warrants have also been issued for 33-year-old Derrick Lamar Britt Jr., who remains at large. All three are implicated in the death of 36-year-old Josh Gillis on July 24, 2026.

The incident

On Friday, July 24, 2026, Tift County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies responded to a report of a burning car at the intersection of Arnold Road and Branch Road in Tifton. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Gillis deceased inside the vehicle.

An autopsy conducted by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Gillis’s death a homicide, confirming he died from apparent gunshot wounds.

Suspects and charges

Authorities have filed extensive charges against the individuals involved:

• Robert Louis Brown (41): Currently held in the Tift County Jail on unrelated charges. He is charged with:
  • Malice Murder
  • Felony Murder
  • Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
  • Second Degree Arson
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Improper Disposal of Human Remains
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime
  • Tampering with Evidence
• Aiyah Foster (25): Arrested on August 6, 2026, and booked into the Tift County Jail. She is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
  • Tampering with Evidence
  • Improper Disposal of Human Remains
  • Second Degree Arson
• Derrick Lamar Britt Jr. (33): WANTED. Britt is not in custody and remains at large. Active warrants have been taken for his arrest on charges of:
  • Malice Murder
  • Felony Murder
  • Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
  • Second Degree Arson
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Improper Disposal of Human Remains
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime
  • Tampering with Evidence

How to help

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case or the location of Derrick Lamar Britt Jr. is urged to contact law enforcement:

• GBI Regional Investigative Office (Sylvester): 229-777-2080
• Tift County Sheriff’s Office: 229-388-6020

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by:

• Calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477)
• Submitting online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online
• Downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the Tift County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

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