State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" investigates the distinctive ways in which crime impacts rural communities and their judicial systems. He was sentenced to life without parole, meaning he would die in prison. The killer could only be someone she knew closely, and the case divides the town. Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, See how your Pennsylvania county ranks on voter friendliness with this interactive scorecard, Hillsborough school board member "on the fence" as vote on boundaries looms, Girls basketball playoffs: Wildcats, Warriors move to region finals. (The US average is 22.7) Adel property crime is 69.0. Pierce was taken to South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta and later taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. Whitehead was pronounced dead at South Georgia Medical Center. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. ADEL A new true-crime documentary series hitting TV screens next week starts off with a look at a 20-year-old She determined that Inmans constitutional rights were violated, including by the prosecutions failure to disclose evidence suggesting Hercules Brown committed the crime. All rights reserved. WebThere was no hard evidence connecting Inman to the murder, which had taken place around 2 a.m. on September 19, 1998. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. WebAUGUSTA, GA. (WTXL) A man who spent 23 years in prison for a murder at fast-food restaurant in Adel, Georgia was released from prison. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. What should WTXL be covering in this community. WebAdel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. The city of Adel / edl / is the county seat of Cook County, Georgia, United States, [4] located fifty-two miles (84 km) southeast of Albany. Berrian was booked into the Cook County Jail. There was only one persons DNA on the mask: Hercules Browns.. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Pierce was taken to South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta and later taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. Whitehead was pronounced dead at South Georgia Medical Center. And Inman will always be part of the GIP family and Georgias exoneree community. While Inmans future is bright, there is still a long road ahead. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits After Innocence and the Northern California Innocence Project. Finally, on December 20th, 2021, twenty-three years after he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, almost eight years after a court first heard DNA evidence of his innocence, and two years after Georgia Supreme Court justices urged Georgia's Attorney General to "Let Justice Be Done," Devonia Inman was freed from prison and exonerated. There is hope. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. In this episode, Hilarie spends time chatting with Devonias family, including his family and his son. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Since the ski mask was never tested, the GIP was able to get a DNA test and guess whos DNA matched? The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. An official website of the State of Georgia. The Court draws an adverse inference as the finder of fact in this proceeding that (he) committed the murder of Donna Brown, the order concludes. The investigation is active and ongoing. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Incentivized Witnesses, Murder ADEL A new true-crime documentary series hitting TV screens next week starts off with a look at a 20-year-old Adel murder case. Wilson and Pickett were already in custody in the Lowndes County jail on unrelated charges. WebAdel, GA (May 11, 2020) - On Monday, May 11, 2020, an additional arrest was made for the murder of Quinten Payne and Cody Robinson on December 31, 2019. Background based on a previous GBI release: On Sunday, April 14, 2019, just before 1 a.m., the Adel Police Department (APD) responded to a shots fired call at The Stage in the 100 block of West First Street. Twenty-year-old Devonia Inman, Over 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? Adel, GA (February 21, 2020) On Thursday, February 20, 2020, arrest warrants were issued for the murder of Quinten Payne and Cody Robinson. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. GAPS - Georgia Applicant Processing Service, Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions, Obtaining Criminal History Record Information, The investigation is active and ongoing. The Georgia Supreme Court then denied Devonias request to appeal Judge McConnells decision., Judge McConnells decision meant that Devonia would remain wrongfully imprisoned sentenced to die behind prison bars and that no jury ever would hear that:. When a beloved chiropractor in Sauquoit, N.Y., dies suddenly under strange circumstances, investigators discover she's been murdered with a rare poison. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. You can read both press releases on this case on the GBIs website. The Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney quickly and successfully moved to dismiss all underlying charges against Inman, officially exonerating him of the 1998 Taco Bell Murder. Of the four critical States witnesses against Devonia, three have recanted their testimony saying they were pressured or coerced by police. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. Episode Six "Rockville/Ellington, Conn." Premieres Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. WebHe was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years. Violent Crimes - Murder Rape Robbery Assault. With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. WebFor Adel, we found that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Bryant Kenney, age 50 of Adel, was arrested Wednesday. When a brutal murder rocks a small Southern town, residents and police are shocked. Shamar Wilson, 19, Gerome Pickett, 17, and a 16 year old juvenile male were each charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Cody Robinson, 29, was transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where he later died. After the DNA results implicated Hercules rather than Devonia in the Taco Bell Murder, GIP, in partnership with attorneys Knox Dobbins and Jason Stone from Eversheds Sutherland, sought a new trial for Devonia. WebADEL, Ga. (WALB) - Three people have been indicted in the 2019 death of Emmanuel Whitehead, 18, in Adel, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? The killer stole $1,700 and the In the series premiere, the town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Adel violent crime is 24.7. www .cityofadel .us. Copyright 2021 WALB. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. 13-00576 [2] GNIS feature ID. However, in 2014, Cook County Superior Court Judge Buster McConnell ruled that the new DNA evidence implicating Hercules Brown was not enough to entitle Devonia to a new trial. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. GAPS - Georgia Applicant Processing Service, Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions, Obtaining Criminal History Record Information, Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, GBI Makes Arrest in Adel Murder Investigation. GA attorney general defends murder conviction despite justices concerns, Let Justice Be Done: Georgia Justice Call on AG to Consider Ending Fight Over New Murder Trial, Listen to Murder Below the Gnat Line: GIP Case Featured in Season 4 of AJCs Breakdown. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onHorror Movies and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Will wealth and status protect a killer, or will a determined police officer crack the case? Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. In January 2014, DNA evidence was revealed to have linked a Hercules Brown to the incident. Its still unclear as to why the police believed that Devonia had killed Donna. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. The GBI said that a Cook County grand jury indicted Dashay Antwan March, 28, Ra-Shay Marquez March, 23, and Taurian Javon Wetrz, 23, for themurder of Whitehead and aggravated assault on Deshone Pierce. Someone murdered Caroll Bennet, a beloved local grocer, and his employee Rebecca Browning. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jessica Cino - It Couldn't Happen Here _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Devonia has maintained his innocence since the day of his arrest. How you know. In the series premiere, host Hilarie Burton Morgan visits Adel, Georgia, to investigate a devasting crime spree that occurred more than 20 years ago, resulting in the death of four people and the possible imprisonment of an innocent man. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. Wild Concerts: Park releases show schedule, EDITORIAL: Wild Adventures makes 2023 plans, Suspect arrested in Valdosta shooting death, Celebrating Ms. Jeanette: Tree planting honors Coody, Pepsi honors Stronger Together recipients. First, a quick recap. Kenney was charged with one count of Felony Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault and booked into the Cook County Jail. This went against the courts original story that Devonia had murdered Donna Brown alone. How you know. The responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. Adel, GA (February 24, 2022) On February 23, 2022, Bryant Kenney, 50, of Adel, was arrested in connection to the death of Donald Penny, age 81. Devonia Inman embraces family upon release. After Devonias arrest, things relaxed a little in Adel for a while, until April 2000 when Shailesh Patel was found murdered in his brother-in-laws house, bashed with a television. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mordons body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. Inman, who has always professed his innocence, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown, a Taco Bell night manager in Adel. Well revisit this point further down. The biggest break in the case came when the police returned Donnas car to her family, and they found a ski mask inside that the police somehow overlooked. Court Grants Devonia Inmans Habeas Corpus Petition! Years after Devonias trial, Georgia Innocence Project secured DNA testing on the homemade ski mask that was found in the Taco Bell victims car. Devonias story of wrongful conviction is the subject of two podcasts: Breakdown: Murder Below the Gnat Line from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Murderville from The Intercept, and Sundance TV featured the case in the premiere episode of their true-crime series, It Couldnt Happen Here.. , or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The 2017 Adel Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. from The Intercept, and Sundance TV featured the case in the premiere episode of their true-crime series, Georgia Supreme Court Adopts Rule to Hold Prosecutors Accountable for Misconduct. Upon officers arrival, they found Tenesha Mordon deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Later, she even recanted her statement in a letter. The GBI said that a Cook County grand jury indicted Dashay Antwan March, 28, Ra-Shay Marquez March, 23, and Taurian Javon Wetrz, 23, for the murder of Whitehead and aggravated assault on Deshone Pierce. The residents never had a chance to recover from the impact of that carnage. Other Georgia Exonerations. WebADEL, Ga. (WALB) - Three people have been indicted in the 2019 death of Emmanuel Whitehead, 18, in Adel, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, said Devonia. Im glad I get to finally go home, and Im grateful to everyone who helped make that possible., Mistaken Eyewitness Identification Results of DNA testing performed on the perpetrator's mask. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at. Armed Robbery Oscar universe belongs to 'Everything Everywhere', By Terry Richards terry.richards@gaflnews.com. You can read bothpress releases on this case on the GBIs website. On July 22, 2019, the Chattooga County Superior Court ordered the other inmate to give testimony via video conferencing in Donna Browns death, the order said. She was almost immediately accosted and killed. Partly cloudy. Tavares Askew, Tavares Askew, 19, was charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault and is being held in the Baldwin County Jail. A Superior Court Judge issued special presentment bench warrants for all three subjects for the following charges: Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and multiple Felony Street Gang charges. High 83F. Now a superior court judge in Chattooga County has filed an order saying she Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. Adel, GA (January 1, 2020) On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office received a request from the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. ADEL Three Valdosta men were indicted for felony murder by a Cook County grand jury this week in a 2019 shooting at a prom party here. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. As Devonia sat in jail for over two years awaiting trial, Brown apparently went on to violently assault two people in the community and kill two other people and he is now in prison. By Editor | February 28, 2023 | 0. Could the new guy in town be the one who who did it? Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits. (His) willingness to face contempt and disciplinary action father than provide testimony or even invoke his Fifth Amendment rights further justifies this Court drawing an adverse inference here, Graham said in the order. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Andrew Dunn It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. The agency said the Preliminary findings of the autopsy is that Pennys death is ruled as a homicide. Additionally, then-Presiding Justice Nahmias and then-Chief Justice Melton issued, reminding prosecutors of their power to ensure justice is served and urging the Attorney General himself to personally review Inmans case and determine whether justice was actually served by continuing to oppose Inmans efforts for a new trial. CH 27 UHF 44.3 miles away. Kenney was charged with murder and aggravated assault. Use at your own risk. When Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kristina Cook Graham ruled that Devonias habeas could proceed, the AG tried to appeal her decision.. (Photo: Georgia Innocence Project) At about 2 a.m. on September 19, 1998, 40-year-old Donna Brown was robbed and fatally shot as she left her job at a Taco Bell restaurant in Adel, Georgia. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. Devonia reached out to the Georgia Innocence Project, and they took on his case due to mounting evidence that he was likely innocent. As a result, sometimes killers walk free, or in the case of the shows first episode, the wrong man might wind up behind bars. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. Unlike Donnas case, Shaileshs murderer was never found, and the case is still marked as unsolved. Kenney Web229. 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