Skyy MimsAn aspiring rapper, model and dancer from Detroit will appear July 18 in Whitfield County Superior Court for her arraignment on murder and armed robbery charges.
Skyy Raven Marie Mims, 21, has been accused of plunging a knife into the back of Dahyabhai Kalidas Chaudhari, a convenience store clerk in Dalton, Ga. After Chaudhari died, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, Mims took cash and lottery tickets and ran away.
In addition to murder, the Whitfield County grand jury on Thursday indicted Mims on charges of aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary, possession of a weapon while committing a crime and bringing stolen property into the state.
Her July arraignment is a hearing in which the judge will read the charges to Mims, and she will have an opportunity to enter a plea.
Conasauga Circuit District Attorney Bert Poston said he could not comment on any of the evidence that led to the charges. Public Defender Brandon Sparks, who represented Mims in the weeks after her arrest, did not return a call seeking comment late Thursday afternoon. It is unclear whether he is still Mims' attorney.
The arrest of Mims drew national attention after Chaudhari's death in early March. An aspiring entertainer, Mims had moved to Atlanta just weeks earlier to further her career. She frequently posted YouTube clips with new rap songs, dance videos, highlights of her modeling gigs and promotions for a clothing line she was creating.
But, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, Mims brought a knife and BB gun into the Kanku's Express convenience store at 3385 Airport Road in Dalton. Then, she attacked Chaudhari.
After Chaudhari's death, police did not find Mims for two days. Finally, though, members of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked her down to a home in Bartow County, Ga.
Since her arrest, Mims' friends and family have spoken out online. Some say she was targeted because she is an outsider.
Her mother, Ylet Patterson, has told the Times Free Press that her daughter was only at the Kanku's Express to pass out her mixtapes and distribute fliers promoting her performance at an upcoming "open mic" event.
In March, Patterson said she was trying to raise money to hire a private attorney for Mims.
"We do not trust Dalton," she said. "That's why I'm coming forward now. Dalton is horrible. What else can I say? It doesn't take a genius to figure this out."
Patterson could not be reached for comment. A phone number she previously used did not work Thursday afternoon.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com.