ATHENS Ga. – A college professor suspected in the shooting deaths of his wife and two men outside a community theater has not used his cell phone or credit card, leaving few traces as authorities searched for him Sunday.
George Zinkhan, a 57-year-old marketing professor at the University of Georgia, was last seen Saturday afternoon shortly after the shooting when he dropped his two young children off at his neighbor’s house, police said.
Authorities initially described one of the victims, Marie Bruce, as Zinkhan’s ex-wife, although police later said the couple was still married.
Investigators have received no tips about Zinkhan’s whereabouts and urged people to call police if they see his 2005 red Jeep Liberty with Georgia license plate AIX1376.
State and federal authorities are assisting in the search. Investigators were monitoring airports in case Zinkhan tried to head to Amsterdam, where he owns a home, and speaking with law enforcement agencies in Austin, Texas, where he has relatives. But officials hope that Zinkhan will surface, said Athens-Clarke County Police Capt. Clarence Holeman.
“Criminals make mistakes. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a Ph.D., an M.D. or whatever,” Holeman said.
Meanwhile, friends of the victims dropped off flowers and lit candles Sunday morning in front of the Athens Community Theater. The victims Marie Bruce, 47; Tom Tanner, 40; and Ben Teague, 63, were members of Town & Gown Players, a local theater group that was staging a performance of “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” this weekend at the theater. Two others were hurt by shrapnel.
