Christopher Lee Groce
ATHENS-Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson released a statement concerning the two break-ins at Papa John’s Pizza on January 10th and 13th:
“On January 10, 2017 Papa John’s Pizza on US 72 was broken into. The front door was broken out and cash was taken from the business.
Investigator Kelly Fussell investigated the case and developed Christopher Lee Groce as a suspect in the case. Cash was taken from the business. On January 13, 2017 it was broken into again. In both burglaries the front door was knocked out. In this case there was nothing taken.
April Rae Hobbs
On Friday investigators located Groce and his girlfriend staying at the Budget Inn on Hwy 31. Both subjects were transported to the police department for questioning. Groce confessed to breaking into Papa John’s because he was upset with the manager for firing him in early January of this year.
April Rae Hobbs was the driver of the vehicle on the first burglary.
Groce was arrested and charged 2 counts of burglary 3rd degree. Hobbs was also arrested for 1 count of burglary 3rd degree.
Both Groce and Hobbs were booked at the police department and transferred to the county jail. “
