The man charged in the double homicide of a mother and daughter in Vidalia on January 6th had his first appearance in court Friday morning. Joshua Sanders is charged murders of LaTorey Harden and Pamela Harden. After the murder, Sanders fled and was apprehended at a bus station in Flagstaff, Arizona by U.S. Marshals six days later. He waived extradition to Toombs County, avoiding the necessity to have Georgia and Arizona’s Governors having to issue warrants for him to be returned to Toombs County.

Represented by Public Defender Brandee Paine, Sanders sat stoically as he answered affirmatively his understanding of his options as presented by Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Reeves.  As it was his first appearance, there was no indication as how he would plead in the charges for which he is accused.

After the brief court appearance ended, Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tripp Fitzner said that his office plans to take the case before a Toombs County Grand Jury for indictment as soon as possible. As of Friday morning, Sanders had made no application for bond, and the District Attorney said that if or when he does, the state would oppose any bond.

“I’d just like to thank the Vidalia Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and especially the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office who arranged for Mr. Sanders to be brought back to Toombs County so quickly. Hats off them!”