A Fort Stewart soldier has been arrested in connection with the death of a North Carolina man whose body was found in Savannah on Dec. 23.

 
Bradley Bates turned himself into the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office on Monday and has been charged in the death of  William Whitsett, whose body was found at a construction site just west of King George Boulevard, according to a news release from the Savannah-Chatham Police Public Information Officer Julian Miller.

Bates has been charged with murder, malice murder and possession of a firearm in commission of  a crime.  He is being housed in the Chatham County Detention Center and has made a first appearance, during which bond was denied by a magistrate, according to the release.

Bates is the third person arrested in connection with the death of Whitsett, who was killed by gunfire. A three-week investigation by SCMPD detectives led to the arrest of Kevin Da Palmer, 23, and Genevieve Elizabeth Meeks, 20, who also are charged with murder, malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Da Palma and Meeks have also been charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson issued a statement that read, "Fort Stewart officials are fully aware of the arrest and allegations regarding Spc. Bradley Bates, and have been cooperating very closely with the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department on this investigation. Spc Bates is a military police officer assigned to Fort Stewart."