Richard Dial has more than two decades of experience as a Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent, but he said his largest case, investigating the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, was the lengthiest and largest case he’s taken on.

“It certainly was the most high-profile case I’ve worked,” he said.

Arbery was chased and killed by Gregory and Travis McMichael and William Roddie Bryan as he attempted to flee from the three men. The three white men were armed with a shotgun, handgun and were chasing Arbery in two pickup trucks. The shooting death occurred Feb. 23, 2020.

Dial, who was the lead agent in the case, said he, like most of the nation, became aware of the situation after watching the now infamous released video taken by Bryan. It was after the video was released that Dial said his director reached out to Atlantic Judicial District Attorney Tom Durden and offered the Bureau’s assistance in investigating the case.

Durden, who was the third DA in the case after the prior two recused themselves, formally accepted the GBI’s help on May 5, 2020. The McMichaels were arrested on May 7, 2020. A few weeks later they executed a warrant for Bryan, who turned himself in.

Nearly three months had passed before any arrests were made in the case mostly due to the actions or inactions of the two previous District Attorneys. Former Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself from the case because Gregory McMichael formerly worked as an investigator for her office. The case was then turned over to Waycross DA George Barnhill. Barnhill wrote a statement saying he saw no reason to pursue the matter as the men were attacked by Arbery after he had committed a crime in their neighborhood. Barnhill later recused himself when it was discovered that his son also worked with Johnson and Gregory McMichael.

Dial didn’t comment on the matter as former DA Johnson now faces criminal charges in the case. But Dial did say being called late into a case is not unusual.

“When I learned about the shooting, I was surprised that we were not initially requested but I didn’t think it was that unusual,” Dial said. “I wish I could say this was a unique experience. But a lot of times we end up coming in on a case after several weeks or months after the fact. Sometimes even years. It is something I’ve encountered several times in my career and it does make it much more difficult. It is much easier when the event has just occurred to gather (evidence).”

Dial said when the GBI and supporting police units arrived at the McMichael house to make the arrests the suspects were caught off guard and appeared shocked.

Dial said Gregory Mc-Michael asked him which agency applied for the warrants?

“I informed him it was our agency,” Dial said.

Dial said when he reviewed the initial investigation reports he realized that Bryan played a much bigger role than just a witness.

“His part was not just I see something going on so I’m going to pull out my cell phone and videotape it, that’s not what he did,” Dial said. “He saw a guy running down the road being chased by a truck that he didn’t recognize and he automatically makes assumptions. In his mind he decides this person is in the right and this person is in the wrong. He went so far into it that he actually assaulted Mr. Arbery with his truck.”

Dial said he didn’t want to speculate on what would have happened if the video had not been released. He said he knew Durden planned to take the matter to a Grand Jury, but what the outcome would have been is unknown. He said his team focused on the task at hand.

“It was extremely lengthy and extremely detailed,” he said of their investigation.

Dial said he was pleased with the jury, finding all three men guilty of murder “I am personally elated because it validates my perspective of what I saw,” Dial said. “I know how big a duty it was for the jury and I’m proud to be part of the system that was able to sort through everything and make that kind of decision.”

Dial said some information regarding race issues didn’t surface at the murder trial but will likely surface at the defendants’ federal hate crime trial slated for February 2022. He said certain phrases, statements and words from the defendants were stunning and emotional.

Dial said justice for Ahmaud Arbery came late but was served.

“My heart tells me justice has been served,” Dial said. “A right decision was made by the jury and while it can’t bring Mr. Arbery back, it shined a light on the fact that he was a victim. And that he didn’t deserve what happened to him on that day.”

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