Groom accused of fatally shooting new bride’s stepfather at their Georgia wedding

A husband was charged with murder this week after he allegedly shot and killed his new bride’s stepfather at their wedding in Georgia — but he claims he only fired the gun in self-defense.

Kailagh and Aaron White wed in Butts County, Georgia in July 2024. The ceremony itself went off without a hitch, but Kailagh’s stepfather, 44-year-old Jason Maughon, disappeared into the woods during the reception.

Earlier in the day, Kailagh told a drunk and disorderly attendee that they were behaving inappropriately. She asked them to leave, but the guest snapped at her, and Aaron intervened. Maughon inserted himself into the fight and sucker punched Aaron in the face, WSB-TV reported.

Aaron White was charged with felony murder after he allegedly shot and killed his wife’s stepfather at their wedding. Facebook

Aaron and Maughon then drifted deeper into the woods, where they continued to tussle.

Maughon allegedly brandished a gun and began firing at Aaron, who retreated to his own truck and retrieved a firearm, Butts County Sheriff Gary Long told the outlet.

Maughon was found dead with seven gunshot wounds in the woods, and Aaron staggered away with a gunshot wound to his hand.

Aaron told the outlet that his new father-in-law was “threatening to cut [him]” and he opened fire out of “a fear for [his] life.”

“I don’t think anyone should have to second-guess defending themselves,” Aaron said.

Kailagh, too, still stands by their union and believes she married her “best friend,” even if he did gun down her stepfather on the day they became husband and wife.

A grand jury determined that Aaron acted in self-defense last year, but District Attorney Jonathan Adams opted to retry the case with a second grand jury that indicted him for felony murder on Wednesday.

Long, the sheriff, told the outlet that he thinks the Adams’ office is out of line and believes Aaron didn’t commit a triable crime.

Jason Maughon, 44, was shot seven times in the woods at his stepdaughter’s wedding reception. Towaliga District Attorney’s Office

“There’s an innocent man in my jail,” he said.

Aaron’s defense attorney, Bret Dunn, went a step further and accused Adams of dramatizing the case for his own personal gain.

“Jonathan Adams is making a politically motivated decision based on him wanting to be a judge,” Dunn told the outlet.

Adams is currently campaigning for a coveted seat as a Superior Court Judge.

Adams scoffed at Dunn’s hypocritical slander — since the conservative defense attorney is running for a position above his station.

“I think the only one who has political gain in this is a defense attorney who’s running for state senate, and Bret Dunn is that person,” Adams told the outlet.

Aaron’s bond was set at $100,000 on Wednesday.

Long said the Butts County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are still investigating the case.