GBI: Arrest made in deadly house fire in Pine Mountain
An arrest has been made in connection with a deadly house fire in Pine Mountain.
Authorities from the Pine Mountain Police and Fire Departments responded to a house fire in the 400 block of East Harris Street on Friday, June 13, 2025. Upon arrival, officers made contact with a subject outside the home, identified as 19-year-old Elohim Hill. Firefighters and officers observed flames coming from the residence.
After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered the remains of an unidentified individual inside the home. The Pine Mountain Police Department immediately requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire to conduct an arson and death investigation.
The remains were transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur, Georgia, for identification and autopsy. The victim was later identified as 54-year-old Bridgett Powell.
Hill was initially arrested on June 13, 2025, and charged with concealing the death of another person. Following further investigation and confirmation of Powell’s identity, authorities determined that Hill and Powell were related.
On June 27, 2025, additional arrest warrants were issued for Hill, charging him with Murder, Aggravated Battery, and Aggravated Assault. He was booked into the Harris County Jail.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI’s Columbus regional investigative office at 706-565-7888. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or via the “See Something, Send Something” mobile app.
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