Woman strangled and assaulted with hot coals in Athens homeless camp

Kirby Lynn Kesler

By Joe Johnson

A homeless man was recently arrested for allegedly strangling a woman and threatening to burn down a tent with her inside.

Kirby Lynn Kesler, 55, was charged with aggravated assault, simple battery, and making terroristic threats.

According to police, the incident happened on the night of January 19, at a small homeless camp in the woods behind Whataburger on Atlanta Highway.

The 54-year-old victim told police that she and Kesler became involved in an argument when he was drunk and things escalated to where he pulled her to the ground by the hair, then punched, kicked, and strangled her.

The woman also said that Kesler had threatened to burn down their tent with her still in it and threw hot coals from a fire at her.

Asked about marks on her forehead, the victim told police that they were from when Kesler threw a can of Pringles at her some weeks back.

A Magistrate Court judge denied bail to Kesler because he deemed him to be a significant threat to the victim .