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Son arrested after his mother and her companion are found fatally shot in their bed

Bernard Rittenhouse, 55, of Waycross, was charged with two counts of felony murder and one count of burglary, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
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A Georgia man has been charged with murder after his 73-year-old mother and her 75-year-old companion were found fatally shot in their bed, authorities said Wednesday.

Bernard Rittenhouse, 55, of Waycross, was arrested on two counts of felony murder and one count of burglary, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

The agency did not disclose a motive.

Virginia Thomas and Charles Barnett were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds, authorities said. The photo was blurred by the source.
Virginia Thomas and Charles Barnett were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds, authorities said. The photo was blurred by the source.Georgia Bureau of Investigation

The announcement of an arrest comes two days after a relative called 911 to report that Virginia D. Thomas and Charles M. Barnett were dead in their Waycross home.

Waycross is in south Georgia more than 120 miles southwest of Savannah.

“Deputies arrived and found the couple deceased with apparent gunshot wounds,” the state agency said.

Rittenhouse, Thomas' son, was taken to the Ware County Jail on Tuesday, according to the release. Lawyer information wasn't immediately available.