Melissa Tibbetts, 45, was found dead at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in October, and a suspect was arrested weeks later.
ATLANTA — A man has been arrested on murder and aggravated battery charges after a 45-year-old woman was found dead last month inside a room at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown, authorities said.
Melissa Tibbetts was found dead Oct. 14 after Atlanta police officers responded to the hotel at 1065 Peachtree St. NE. Hotel staff directed officers to a room, where they found Tibbetts unresponsive. The Fulton County Medical Examiner later classified her death as a homicide, prompting a homicide investigation.
Detectives identified Emanuel Poindexter as a suspect on Oct. 22 and obtained warrants for his arrest, according to Atlanta police. At the time, authorities said Poindexter was in Gwinnett County receiving medical treatment for what police described as a self-inflicted knife wound. He was taken into custody after being medically cleared and was booked into the Fulton County Jail.
Poindexter faces charges of murder and aggravated battery. An arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution alleges Tibbetts suffered a broken hyoid bone in her neck and was struck several times, resulting in her death. The claims contained in the warrant are allegations, and Poindexter is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities have not publicly explained how detectives identified Poindexter as a suspect. Police also have not disclosed what relationship, if any, existed between Poindexter and Tibbetts or announced a possible motive. Reports from Atlanta news organizations have differed on Poindexter’s age, so his age could not be independently confirmed from the available information.
Tibbetts’ family has publicly identified her as the woman who died. An obituary published by Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory said Tibbetts lived in Lawrenceville and worked as an executive assistant. The obituary described her as a mother who enjoyed traveling, collecting elephants and spending time near the ocean.
The investigation began after officers were called to the Midtown hotel Oct. 14. Homicide detectives took over the case after Tibbetts was found, and the medical examiner classified her death as a homicide the following day. Police said investigators developed enough information by Oct. 22 to identify Poindexter as a suspect and obtain arrest warrants.
Atlanta police announced the arrest Nov. 3 after Poindexter had been medically cleared. Several local news organizations reported that he was taken to the Fulton County Jail, where the murder and aggravated battery charges were filed. Police said the arrest allowed them to close the active homicide investigation, though the criminal prosecution remains pending.
No publicly verified information was available about a plea, trial date or final resolution of the charges as of Tuesday. The case now moves through the Fulton County court system, where prosecutors will be required to prove the allegations against Poindexter beyond a reasonable doubt.
Author note: Last updated November 4, 2026.