ATHENS, Ga. - Two brothers accused of killing an Athens man have been charged in an Elbert County double slaying.

Authorities said Cesar Augusto Suarez and Diego Ernesto Suarez were each charged with two counts of murder in warrants obtained last week.

Elbert County Sheriff Barry Haston said the brothers were responsible for the July 6 shooting deaths of 65-year-old Joe Edward Ballew and 39-year-old Laurie Ann Phillips. The Athens Banner-Herald reports that the bodies were found when Ballew's son went to his father's home near Bowman.

Haston said ballistics tests have linked the gun used in the double slaying to the killing of Derrick Andre Johnson, whose body was found in Oglethorpe County. The brothers have been charged in that case.

It was not clear Saturday whether they had attorneys.