Trio charged with Athens carjacking

By Joe Johnson

Two men and a woman have been indicted for an armed carjacking that occurred in Athens last year.

Austin Hunter McInvale, 26, Christopher Eugene Nixon, 26, and Kayla Nicole Starnes, 28, were accused in the indictment of participating in the armed theft of a 2002 Honda Accord from 36-year-old Jeremiah Cooper on Aug. 23, 2023.

McInvale was indicted for hijacking a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and, for pistol-whipping the victim, aggravated assault.

Nixon and Starnes were charged in the indictment with being parties to the crimes of hijacking a motor vehicle and aggravated assault.

The indictment was filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.

Austin Hunter McInvale

Christopher Eugene Nixon

Nixon, of Rolling Ridge Drive, has been in custody since Nov. 26, and McInvale, who is from McDonough, was arrested on Dec. 23.

Starnes remained at large as of Thursday.