Ex-con allegedly kidnapped bartender returning from work before killing her: police

A Georgia man who was just released from prison is accused of the recent early morning murder of a woman returning home from work.

At around 5 a.m. Aug. 13, an eyewitness called 911 to report a possible kidnapping after spotting Mariam Abdulrab, 27, appearing to get forced into an SUV in Atlanta, police said.

About an hour later, officers responded to a call about shots fired in the area but found nothing. Abdulrab’s body was found several hours later and police now believe her death is related to the earlier report of gunfire.

Friends of the victim told investigators Abdulrab was abducted at gunpoint after returning home from her job as a bartender, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Loved ones reportedly noted Abdulrab was a “living jewel” and “bright light.”

“Everyone looked forward to seeing Mariam at work, on both sides of the bar,” said Abdulrab’s colleague, Dillon Knight. “She was a hard worker with a great finesse for making people feel welcome and appreciated. She had a huge heart and would go well out of her way to help out or provide for folks."

The same day, police identified Demarcus Brinkley, 27, as a person of interest in the case and he led troopers on a high-speed chase in Griffin that ended when he hit another vehicle and crashed. Brinkley was transported to Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in stable condition. The status of the other driver is unknown.

On Aug. 14, police announced they established probable cause and secured arrest warrants against Brinkley. He now faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Police expect to book Brinkley into the Fulton County Jail on the charges once he is discharged from the hospital.

Brinkley was released from prison last November after he pleaded guilty and served seven years of a 15-year sentence behind bars in connection to the alleged sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl and attempted rape of a 5-year-old girl, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing police and legal reports.