Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Durden has been appointed to take over the case of slain Brunswick man Ahmaud Arbery.  

Durden said Tuesday in a press release he will present the case to “the next available” grand jury in Glynn County after the DAs from the Brunswick and Waycross judicial circuits recused themselves. 

“After careful review of the evidence presented and after exchanging information with the Glynn County Police Department, the FBI, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, I am of the opinion that the case should be presented to the grand jury of Glynn County for consideration of criminal charges against those involved in the death of Mr. Arbery,” Durden said. 

It’s unclear when the case will be presented. Courts in Georgia are closed through June 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I have no control over the suspensions due to the pandemic; however, I do intend to present the case to the next available grand jury in Glynn County,” Durden said. 

Arbery, 25, was reportedly jogging through a neighborhood Feb. 25 when two men who claim they thought he was a burglar chased him down and after a confrontation, two shots were fired, and Arbery was killed. 

The men, Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis McMichael, 35, have not been charged in the case, which has gotten national media attention.