You can learn more here on our blog. GAPS - Georgia Applicant Processing Service, Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions, Obtaining Criminal History Record Information, The investigation is active and ongoing. Nonetheless, he has sat in jail for more than two decades now. In June of this year, Katrina Cook Graham, chief judge of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, issued an order drawing adverse inference named another state inmate as the killer. Episode Four "Cookeville, Tenn." Premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. ADEL, 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 Investigation (GBI). To set the scene, Adel is a little town with a population under 5,000. And another. The residents never had a chance to recover from the impact of that carnage. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and The responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. AUGUSTA, GA. (WTXL) A man who spent 23 years in prison for a murder at fast-food restaurant in Adel, Georgia was released from prison. 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. Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Adel, Georgia (GA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. 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. But the judge at Devonias trial refused to allow the jury to hear the testimony about Hercules, and the prosecutor asserted there was not one scintilla of evidence linking Hercules to the crime. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. Devonias attorneys tried to call witnesses to show that another man, Hercules Brown, had actually committed and admitted to the crime. Still, the court denied the request, claiming that the ski mask did not prove Devonia wasnt there, asserting only that Hercules might have also been involved. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: The city of Adel, Georgia does not have FBI Crime Statistics. Great News! His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Mr. Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. It was higher than in 96.5% U.S. cities. 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. When police arrived, there was a large crowd fleeing the area. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasnt guilty. The court finds that prosecutors withheld critical evidence in the case of Devonia Inman that was featured in AJCs Breakdown podcast. Kenney was charged with murder and aggravated assault. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. 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. WebFebruary 24, 2022. Other Georgia Exonerations. Copyright 2021 WALB. He pleaded guilty to their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence. Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Oscar universe belongs to 'Everything Everywhere', By Terry Richards terry.richards@gaflnews.com. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. The Adel Police Department responded to a 911 call at 500 N. Gordon Avenue, Adel, Cook County, GA, in reference to an unresponsive person. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. Violent offenses tracked included rape, Welcome back to Murderville, Georgia. There was only one persons DNA on the mask: Hercules Browns.. 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. Partly cloudy. A Chattooga County Superior Court Judge has granted Devonia Inmans habeas Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? Possession of a Firearm. WebAt 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. True Crime Network 6.5; MyNetworkTV 6.6; View Station Details. 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. Law enforcement investigating possible shooting on I-10 near north Monroe, Remains recently found in St. Marks Refuge confirmed to be missing Tallahassee father, One person injured in Lake Bradford Road shooting, Collision closes lanes on North Monroe Street, Parents and teachers concerned about state of Gadsden County school district, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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 other inmate was sentenced to life in prison for an unrelated double murder in Adel on Nov. 10, 2000, and remains in Ware State Prison, state prison records show. Web+1 (917) 789-2386 ryan@ryanchristopherjones.com MURDERVILLE, GA For The Intercept; January 2018 When a brutal murder rocks a small town in south Georgia, residents and police are shocked. Later, she even recanted her statement in a letter. A decade later, DNA evidence taken from a makeshift ski mask found in Donna Browns car matched the other inmate, the judges order said. Virginia was born May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel. His death was also soon overshadowed by a gruesome double-homicide seven months later, in November 2000. Payne and Robinsons final cause of death will be determined during the autopsy by the GBI Medical Examiners Office in Macon. She determined that Inmans constitutional rights were violated, including by the prosecutions failure to disclose evidence suggesting Hercules Brown committed the crime. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 33 Local News The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. Our mission is to prevent and correct wrongful convictions while also connecting freed clients to resources to rebuild their lives. How you know. Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. Devonia reached out to the Georgia Innocence Project, and they took on his case due to mounting evidence that he was likely innocent. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. 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. Devonia Inman, 43, was convicted in 2001 for armed robbery and murder of a Taco Bell manager in Adel back in 1998, according to the Georgia Innocence Project. 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. No physical evidence linked Devonia to Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. Berrian was arrested and charged with one count of Felony Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, one count of Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, and one count of Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, in connection to the death of Tenesha Mordon, 41, of Valdosta. Adel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Adel, 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. The 2017 Adel ADEL, 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 Investigation (GBI). (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. Upon officers arrival, they found Tenesha Mordon deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. WebIn the early morning hours of September 19th, 1998 the manager of a Taco Bell in Adel, GA was robbed and murdered in the restaurant parking lot. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at. At the noticed date and time, (he) failed and refused to appear, according to Grahams order. 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. All rights reserved. When Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kristina Cook Graham ruled that Devonias habeas could proceed, the AG tried to appeal her decision.. He was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years. ADEL A new true-crime documentary series hitting TV screens next week starts off with a look at a 20-year-old But then another murder happens. New episodes of True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here air Thursdays at 10/9c on SundanceTV. family and Georgias exoneree community. While Inmans future is bright, there is still a long road ahead. An official website of the State of Georgia. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 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. The description of the episode given on SundanceTVs website reads A man is charged with a brutal murder; DNA evidence may point to another man as the real killer.. WebDonna Brown, a night manager at a Taco Bell in Adel, Georgia, was murdered in 1998 in the restaurants parking lot. 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. Results of DNA testing performed on the perpetrator's mask. 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. The killer stole $1,700 and the As a result, sometimes killers walk free, or in the case of the shows first episode, the wrong man might wind up behind bars. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. She was almost immediately accosted and killed. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onHorror Movies and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Well revisit this point further down. But unfortunately, as of today, Devonia is still behind bars. 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. Incentivized Witnesses, Murder 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. Proudly powered by, The key witnesses who implicated Devonia recanted (save one incentivized and directly contradicted witness);, Hercules Brown confessed to people that Brown committed the Taco Bell murder; or, Hercules Browns DNA, and only his DNA, was found on the homemade ski mask recovered from the Taco Bell managers car., In September 2019, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the AGs attempt to appeal. 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. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. In the early morning hours of September 19th, 1998 the manager of a Taco Bell in Adel, GA was robbed and murdered in the restaurant parking lot. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. While Devonia was in jail awaiting trial, police arrested Brown on an attempted robbery and he had a homemade ski mask in his possession that was very similar to the distinctive homemade ski mask from the Taco Bell Murder. 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. A Georgia man's murder conviction and life sentence should be reexamined, say two Georgia Supreme Court justices and the murder victim's sister. Unfortunately, Georgia is one of only 13 states that does not currently have a statutory compensation law to provide financial relief for years lost to wrongful conviction. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. 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. This went against the courts original story that Devonia had murdered Donna Brown alone. More than 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question: Is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? 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). 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. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. In 2001, Devonia Tyrone Inman was convicted of killing Brown and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Low around 65F. An official website of the State of Georgia. Preliminary findings of the autopsy is that Pennys death is ruled as a homicide. 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. 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. For more than two decades, Inman has maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the Taco Bell Murder. The testimony of three would-be witnesses Inmans lawyer wanted to call was also denied by the trial court, according to appeals court documents. The case went back to the local district court to either re-prosecute Inamn, offer a plea deal or dismiss the charges. Based on what we find out, Devonia did have a violent streak, as his girlfriend testified to him being abusive. This homicide further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the continuous bloodshed. Someone murdered Caroll Bennet, a beloved local grocer, and his employee Rebecca Browning. In 1998, the manager of an Adel Taco Bell was robbed and shot in the parking lot of the restaurant. You can learn more, Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Cody Robinson, 29, was transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where he later died. 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. Georgia Supreme Court Adopts Rule to Hold Prosecutors Accountable for Misconduct The primary duty of the prosecutor is to seek Devonia Inman Exonerated After 23 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment Twenty three years after he was imprisoned for a crime he Court Grants Devonia Inmans Habeas Corpus Petition! He says it was suicide, but her family believes it was murder. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, said Devonia. Her killer took from her about $1,700 of the days receipts The True Crime Story Adel episode will be repeated at 3 a.m. and 12 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, 1 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, and 12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, SundanceTV schedules show. Halloween Kills to release same day in theaters and on streaming, Netflix and Chills creeps back in for Halloween 2021, True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here is a gripping new docuseries, Disappearances with Sarah Turney: True crime podcast debuts, Exclusive clip from True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here, Midnight Mass, Creepshow and 5 horror TV shows coming in September 2021. It seems to be a likely mix of racial profiling and Devonia surrounding himself with the wrong kind of people. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. By Editor | February 28, 2023 | 0. For the double-homicide, law enforcement believed Hercules Brown to be the culprit. In rural Shelbyville, Ky., a body is found in the river. WebThere was no hard evidence connecting Inman to the murder, which had taken place around 2 a.m. on September 19, 1998. 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. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. Hercules Brown worked at the very same Taco Bell as Donna Brown at the same time and would often work closing shifts. Case solved. (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. 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 evidence against Devonia came from witness testimony. 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. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. 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. Georgias Attorney General sought to dismiss the habeas and keep Devonia in prison. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. High 83F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. 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 Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, the Adel Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the vicinity of 305 N. Adams Street. But in their rush to make an arrest, do they get the wrong man? 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. On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. 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 Five "Shelbyville, Ky." Premieres Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. There was a problem saving your notification. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Hilarie Burton in It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Im glad I get to finally go home, and Im grateful to everyone who helped make that possible.. Alapaha Judicial Circuit Chase Studstill filed a motion to dismiss the underlying charges, which Chief Judge Clayton Tomlinson granted Monday morning. The investigation is active and ongoing. Tavares Askew, 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. 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His case due to mounting evidence that he was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years:! Locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer stole $ 1,700 and the responding officers found Pierce in river... Their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence court finds that withheld! Sundancetv channel the continuous bloodshed believes it was murder right a wrong in Georgia ) failed and to!