The Newton County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have issued a self-imposed gag order on new information relating to the Franklin Benson investigation.
"We are shutting down issuing progress reports on the case," said NCSO Lt. Bill Watterson. "The media attention on this case has just become too great. We don't want the defense or the suspect to know every part of our investigation."
The investigation is still ongoing and as of Thursday afternoon, the head and torso of victim Leslyan Williams, 49, of Decatur, has yet to be found.
"We have some very viable leads right now," Watterson said of the case.
Benson, who is currently being held in the Newton County Detention Center, has been charged with unlawfully removing human body parts from the scene of death, murder, felony murder and concealing death of another person.
Benson is accused of killing Williams and dismembering her body before disposing of her hands, arms, legs and feet in a neighborhood off of Ga. Highway 212 on Oct. 29.
In a separate murder investigation, Rick Breedlove, 54, has been formally charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Breedlove allegedly shot his girlfriend Pam Spencer, 49, with a .357 Magnum revolver before turning the gun on himself.
Watterson said Breedlove was currently in serious but stable condition in an Atlanta hospital. He has reportedly not regained consciousness since the incident.