The state had 30 days to appeal, but Georgias attorney general declined. ABC 27.1; Bounce TV 27.2; Grit 27.3; Ion Mystery 27.4; Court TV 27.4; Inman is an inmate at Hays State Prison, located in Chattooga County. Devonia walked out of Augusta State Medical Prison and into the arms of family just in time to celebrate his first Christmas as a free man in more than two decades. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. At approximately 4:00 p.m., the Adel Police Department responded to 1113 Birch Street, Adel, Cook County, GA, in reference to a 911 call of a body found in a wooded area. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. Case solved. All rights reserved. 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. The only noise you ever heard around here was children playing, the minister All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. 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. 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. And another. "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" investigates the distinctive ways in which crime impacts rural communities and their judicial systems. Of the four critical States witnesses against Devonia, three have recanted their testimony saying they were pressured or coerced by police. CH 27 UHF 44.3 miles away. WebOn April 8, 2000, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Shailesh Patel was found murdered at his brother-in-law's residence located on North Gordon Avenue, Adel, Cook County, Man charged with murder in 2020 Brooks Co. football players death, Officer-involved shooting reported in Ashburn, APD looking for domestic violence suspect, Albany Symphony Orchestra to present Classical Kids LIVE performance, SWGA residents federally charged with bank fraud and identity theft, MORE: 1 dead, 2 injured in Cook Co. shooting, MORE: Mother still pleads for information after son killed at Adel party. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. The investigation is active and ongoing. She determined that Inmans constitutional rights were violated, including by the prosecutions failure to disclose evidence suggesting Hercules Brown committed the crime. 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. The court finds that prosecutors withheld critical evidence in the case of Devonia Inman that was featured in AJCs Breakdown podcast. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. All rights reserved. In 2018, a legal team led by Tom Reilley and Tiffany Bracewell of Troutman Pepper, with GIP attorneys acting as consultants, filed a habeas corpus petition once again seeking freedom for Devonia. Episode Three "St. Augustine, Fla." Premieres Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. A young woman in St. Augustine, Fla. with everything to live for is found shot to death with the gun belonging to her boyfriend, a deputy sheriff. Years after Devonias trial, Georgia Innocence Project secured DNA testing on the homemade ski mask that was found in the Taco Bell victims car. 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. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: The city of Adel, Georgia does not have FBI Crime Statistics. 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. Im glad I get to finally go home, and Im grateful to everyone who helped make that possible., Mistaken Eyewitness Identification 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. Years go by until the police catch the killer, but some in town question if the suspect is even capable of committing this crime. Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Mr. Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. She was carrying $1,732 in cash that she was going to deposit at a bank. Devonia Inman exited the Augusta State Medical Prison on Monday. Police later found the car abandoned nearby with a distinctive homemade ski mask inside. Court Grants Devonia Inmans Habeas Corpus Petition! Kenney 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. High 83F. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here is a compelling look at the way true crime impacts small towns. Produced by Bungalow Media + Entertainment, "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" is executive produced by Robert Friedman, Liz Yale Marsh, and Mike Powers for Bungalow Media + Entertainment as well as Hilarie Burton Morgan for Mischief Farm, Liz DeCesare and Meg Mortimer for Authentic Management Productions, and Po Kutchins. In the riveting series, Burton Morgan attempts to understand the challenges the community faced investigating the crime, learns the lasting impact the crime has had on the fabric of the town, and ultimately calls attention to where justice currently stands. When an immigrant couple who settled in the Tennessee town of Cookeville is executed in their sleep and their house set on fire, investigators quickly identify a suspect with motive. The case went back to the local district court to either re-prosecute Inamn, offer a plea deal or dismiss the charges. Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? By Editor | February 28, 2023 | 0. (The US average is 22.7) Adel (zip 31620) property crime is 50.7. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. In July 2021, a new judge was appointed to review the case and is considering the Hercules Brown evidence. Tavares Askew, As a result, sometimes killers walk free, or in the case of the shows first episode, the wrong man might wind up behind bars. Copyright 2021 WALB. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. An official website of the State of Georgia. Justice, not victory, is our chief goal. So say GA attorney general defends murder conviction despite justices concerns Outlet: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Author: Bill Rankin Published: 12/19/2019 Read: Here We have more EXCITING NEWS in the Devonia Inman case! The agency said the Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. 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. 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 Episode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. 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. More than 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question: Is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 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. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. Cody Robinson, 29, was transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where he later died. A decade later, DNA evidence taken from a makeshift ski mask found in Donna Browns car matched the other inmate, the judges order said. WebMurders in Adel were rare and the neighborhood where Patel was killed was particularly peaceful. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Possession of a Firearm. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. An official website of the State of Georgia. She was almost immediately accosted and killed. 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. 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, GBI Investigates Two Deaths in Adel, GA - UPDATE. Each violation, according to Judge Graham, demonstrates the fundamental unfairness of Mr. Inmans trial, undermines the Courts confidence in the outcome of the trial and related conviction, and justifies granting habeas corpus relief., With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. 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. 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:. Low around 65F. WebDonna Brown, a night manager at a Taco Bell in Adel, Georgia, was murdered in 1998 in the restaurants parking lot. Virginia was born May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel. The only witness who did not recant was paid $5,000 for her testimony -- testimony that was directly contradicted by another person who had been with her at the time of the crime. When a brutal murder rocks a small Southern town, residents and police are shocked. Could the new guy in town be the one who who did it? 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. First, a quick recap. 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. WebJan 24, 2018 A man convicted of murder in South Georgia is innocent and should have a new trial because of spectacular failures by the criminal justice system before, during and For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. (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. (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. The victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, FIPS code. Let Justice be done, Justice Nahmias said. 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. She was the daughter of the late Burton B. and Ruth Gray Bennett. WebThe 2017 crime rate in Adel, GA is 524 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.9 times higher than the U.S. average. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. Each episode sees Morgan meet with family members and local insiders as she explores the twists and turns of the case and uncovers the unique challenges of small-town justice. 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. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Office in Douglas, GA at (912) 389-4103, or Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2225. 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. Each violation, according to Judge Graham, demonstrates the fundamental unfairness of Mr. Inmans trial, undermines the Courts confidence in the outcome of the trial and related conviction, and justifies granting habeas corpus relief.. He was sentenced to life without parole, meaning he would die in prison. Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. The juvenile was taken into custody without incident. 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. 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. The responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Unlike Donnas case, Shaileshs murderer was never found, and the case is still marked as unsolved. WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee, FL. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. Too often the heartbreaking events in these towns are largely overlooked because they lack the national media platforms and advocacy resources found in larger cities. The killer stole $1,700 and the It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. At Devonias death penalty trial in 2001, the State suggested that he wore the ski mask as he shot and killed the victim. www .cityofadel .us. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. 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