A Georgia man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a truck driver he lured to his death through an online dating app. Mark Antonio White, 23, was convicted on multiple charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, following the shooting death of 39-year-old Garcia Danielle Gaddis.
The incident took place on October 21, 2021, when Gaddis, a truck driver and part-time Uber driver, was lured to a suburban neighborhood by White, who he had met on the Tagged dating app. The details of the case were pieced together through surveillance footage, police investigations, and forensic evidence, ultimately leading to White’s arrest in 2022.
According to prosecutors, the two men exchanged messages on the app, and Gaddis agreed to meet White near the Little Suwanee Pointe neighborhood in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Gaddis was seen driving through the area late in the evening on the night he was killed. Around 11 p.m., the surveillance footage showed his truck stopping at the pool area of a nearby clubhouse, where a Black man with shoulder-length dreadlocks entered the vehicle.
The sequence of events following this encounter was critical in the investigation. Shortly after Gaddis picked up the man, the truck was seen driving toward the neighborhood’s exit, but it would not be seen again in the area. Minutes later, the same individual was captured on video walking away from the neighborhood entrance and returning to the clubhouse parking lot, now without Gaddis.
When investigators later found Gaddis’ body in his truck, parked in the neighborhood where the meeting had occurred, they determined he had been shot once in the head. His cellphone, wallet, and car keys were missing, further suggesting that robbery was a motive for the crime.
The investigation into the murder revealed critical connections to White. In particular, forensic evidence tied him to the crime scene. Police discovered a shell casing in the cab of Gaddis’ truck, which was found to match casings from a previous shooting incident. In July 2021, White had allegedly fired at his ex-girlfriend and her mother in a separate, unrelated event. The shell casings from that incident were kept by the mother, who later turned them over to police when they were investigating the Gaddis murder. This was a key lead that helped link White to both the murder of Gaddis and the prior shooting.
Further investigation showed a man matching White’s description at the scene of a police eviction across the street from the location where Gaddis was killed. Video footage captured during this eviction, which took place weeks later, showed a person dressed in a manner consistent with the figure seen in the neighborhood the night of Gaddis’ death. This evidence was crucial in establishing White’s presence in the area during the time of the murder.
The case was also supported by White’s criminal history, which included violent incidents and a known association with firearms. This background, along with the overwhelming evidence collected by investigators, led to White’s eventual arrest in June 2022.
Garcia Danielle Gaddis, a truck driver who had a passion for meeting new people, was remembered by his family as a beloved individual. His cousin, Mercedes Evans, shared with the media that Gaddis was deeply loved by his family and friends. She described him as someone who not only worked as a truck driver but also drove for Uber in his spare time, as he enjoyed interacting with others. Gaddis was killed while living his everyday life, meeting a person he thought was a potential friend but instead met a tragic end.
The family expressed relief and a sense of closure following the conviction, although they acknowledged that no punishment could fully undo the grief caused by the loss of Gaddis. The conviction of White for the murder was seen as an essential step toward justice for the victim and his family, although the emotional scars left by the crime would remain.
In addition to the criminal charges, the case highlighted the growing concerns around the use of online platforms for both socializing and meeting strangers, which can sometimes result in deadly outcomes. Gaddis’ tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with meeting people online, especially when there is an element of deception or criminal intent involved.
As part of the sentencing, White will spend the rest of his life in prison. The case has had a profound impact on the community and serves as a warning about the dangers that can arise from trusting strangers met on the internet. The prosecution emphasized that justice had been served, but also that the process could never bring back Gaddis, a man whose life was tragically cut short.
