For the double-homicide, law enforcement believed Hercules Brown to be the culprit. In September 2019, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the AGs attempt to appeal. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. 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 victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, 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. With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. Then a newspaper carrier came forward to finger Devonia as the murderer, but her testimony changed. 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. How you know. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. Episode Five "Shelbyville, Ky." Premieres Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. The investigation is active and ongoing. 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. Possession of a Firearm. The only evidence against Devonia came from witness testimony. Devonia has maintained his innocence since the day of his arrest. The investigation is active and ongoing. Following a June 2021 contested hearing, Judge Graham granted Inmans habeas corpus petition. Her killer took from her about $1,700 of the days receipts 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. Let Justice be done, Justice Nahmias said. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. EDITOR'S NOTE: In late December 2021, Devonia Inman was exonerated of the conviction that sent him to prison. It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasnt guilty. WebDonna Brown, a night manager at a Taco Bell in Adel, Georgia, was murdered in 1998 in the restaurants parking lot. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. 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. ADEL, Ga. (WCTV) A man is facing multiple charges after his wife's body was discovered in Cook County, the same day she was reported missing by a family member. 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. 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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 responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. There are flower festivals and a quaint street adorned with family-run mom-and-pop shows. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Mr. Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. WebSUMMERVILLE In 2001, Devonia Tyrone Inman was convicted of killing a woman in Adel. As Hilarie talks to his family, its devasting to hear how they thought the DNA would mean Devonia would go free from prison. WebHe was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Police later found the car abandoned nearby with a distinctive homemade ski mask inside. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. All rights reserved. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. Im glad I get to finally go home, and Im grateful to everyone who helped make that possible., Mistaken Eyewitness Identification Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. Sep. 4ADEL The first episode of the gripping six-part series hosted by small-town native, advocate and actress Hilarie Burton Morgan ("One Tree Hill," "The Walking Dead," "Friday Night in with The Morgans"), "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" will make its debut on Thursday at 10 p.m. on SundanceTV and AMC+. There is hope. Devonia Inman embraces family upon release. The 2017 Adel 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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). The state had 30 days to appeal, but Georgias attorney general declined. Court Grants Devonia Inmans Habeas Corpus Petition! The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jessica Cino - It Couldn't Happen Here _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Copyright 2021 WALB. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Inman is an inmate at Hays State Prison, located in Chattooga County. In this episode, Hilarie spends time chatting with Devonias family, including his family and his son. 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. And another. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. The closest similar sized city with FBI crime data is the city of , . Devonia reached out to the Georgia Innocence Project, and they took on his case due to mounting evidence that he was likely innocent. With the Georgia Attorney Generals decision not to appeal, the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney quickly and successfully moved to dismiss all underlying charges against Devonia, officially exonerating him of the 1998 Taco Bell Murder. Years after Devonias trial, Georgia Innocence Project secured DNA testing on the homemade ski mask that was found in the Taco Bell victims car. A habeas corpus petition was filed on behalf of Inman in 2018; claiming he was innocent and his constitutional right of wrongful imprisonment were violated. Now a superior court judge in Chattooga County has filed an order saying she Southern hospitality is a must. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. Hercules Brown. 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. An adverse inference is a legal inference adverse to the concerned party made from that partys silence or the absence of requested evidence, according to uslegal.com. The court finds that prosecutors withheld critical evidence in the case of Devonia Inman that was featured in AJCs Breakdown podcast. What is your favorite part of The Valdosta Daily Times? Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. 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. CH 27 UHF 44.3 miles away. Yep. 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. Hilarie Burton in It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. WebCrime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Adel (zip 31620) violent crime is 39.0. An official website of the State of Georgia. Wilson and Pickett were already in custody in the Lowndes County jail on unrelated charges. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. This homicide further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the continuous bloodshed. 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. Despite having an alibi and no physical or reliable evidence tying him to the crime, Devonia was convicted for armed robbery and malice murder. You can learn more here on our blog. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. (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. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. Years go by until the police catch the killer, but some in town question if the suspect is even capable of committing this crime. Unfortunately for Devonia, he had almost all of the odds stacked against him. Devonia Inman exited the Augusta Without one, exonerees like Devonia Inman are left on their own, with virtually no support from the State, to rebuild their lives. More than eight years after DNA evidence revealed the state of Georgia sent the wrong man to prison for murder, Devonia Inman may finally have a chance to prove his innocence in court. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Alapaha Judicial Circuit Chase Studstill filed a motion to dismiss the underlying charges, which Chief Judge Clayton Tomlinson granted Monday morning. GAPS - Georgia Applicant Processing Service, Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions, Obtaining Criminal History Record Information, The investigation is active and ongoing. When a 22-year-old dancer goes missing, the men of the neighboring town who frequented the club become the suspect pool. Welcome back to Murderville, Georgia. Later, she even recanted her statement in a letter. 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, The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. An official website of the State of Georgia. Kenney was charged with one count of Felony Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault and booked into the Cook County Jail. (The US average is 22.7) Adel property crime is 69.0. A Chattooga County Superior Court Judge has granted Devonia Inmans habeas Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? 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. Penny was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. 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. Hercules Brown worked at the very same Taco Bell as Donna Brown at the same time and would often work closing shifts. It seems to be a likely mix of racial profiling and Devonia surrounding himself with the wrong kind of people. 33 Local News All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. WebCrime in Adel, Georgia. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. In rural Shelbyville, Ky., a body is found in the river. First, a quick recap. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. True Crime Network 6.5; MyNetworkTV 6.6; View Station Details. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. She determined that Inmans constitutional rights were violated, including by the prosecutions failure to disclose evidence suggesting Hercules Brown committed the crime. Bryant Kenney, age 50 of Adel, was arrested Wednesday. Cody Robinson, 29, was transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where he later died. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. There was only one persons DNA on the mask: Hercules Browns.. WebEpisode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. 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. 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. 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. Episode Six "Rockville/Ellington, Conn." Premieres Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. In 2001, Devonia Tyrone Inman was convicted of killing Brown and sentenced to life in prison without parole. You have permission to edit this article. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. No physical evidence linked Devonia to 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). When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and You can read both press releases on this case on the GBIs website. Adel, GA (December 21, 2020) On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBI and Adel PD arrested Lebray Berrian, 32, of Adel. Its still unclear as to why the police believed that Devonia had killed Donna. Unlike Donnas case, Shaileshs murderer was never found, and the case is still marked as unsolved. 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. The other inmate was an employee at the Taco Bell; however, the trial court would not allow the jury to hear that and would not allow Inman to argue that the other man was the guilty party, the order showed. Could the new guy in town be the one who who did it? Similarly, a jailhouse snitch contacted law enforcement to say Devonia had confessed in prison, but again, his testimony was not the most sound, and he, too, later recanted. 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 New true-crime TV series launches with Adel murder. Oscar universe belongs to 'Everything Everywhere', By Terry Richards terry.richards@gaflnews.com. Use at your own risk. But in their rush to make an arrest, do they get the wrong man? 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. Web229. In January 2014, DNA evidence was revealed to have linked a Hercules Brown to the incident. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: The city of Adel, Georgia does not have FBI Crime Statistics. 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. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" investigates the distinctive ways in which crime impacts rural communities and their judicial systems. 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. Our mission is to prevent and correct wrongful convictions while also connecting freed clients to resources to rebuild their lives. Devonias story of wrongful conviction is the subject of two podcasts: from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and. 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. Without one, exonerees like Devonia Inman are left on their own, with virtually no support from the State, to rebuild their lives. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. 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. When Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kristina Cook Graham ruled that Devonias habeas could proceed, the AG tried to appeal her decision.. For more than two decades, Inman has maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the Taco Bell Murder. 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. I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, said Devonia. WebMordon was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds and the body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy, according to the GBI. Tavares Askew, Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits. This went against the courts original story that Devonia had murdered Donna Brown alone. He was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years. 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. 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. 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.. Nonetheless, he has sat in jail for more than two decades now. At the noticed date and time, (he) failed and refused to appear, according to Grahams order. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. New episodes of True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here air Thursdays at 10/9c on SundanceTV. On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Someone murdered Caroll Bennet, a beloved local grocer, and his employee Rebecca Browning. Twenty-year-old Devonia Inman, The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. 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. Of the four critical States witnesses against Devonia, three have recanted their testimony saying they were pressured or coerced by police. Following a June 2021 contested hearing, Judge Graham, . Miss Virginia Gensie Bennett, 90, passed away February 20, 2023 in Adel, Georgia. 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. 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. The only noise you ever heard around here was children playing, the minister According to our research of Georgia and other state lists, there were 53 registered sex offenders living in Adel, Georgia as of March 01, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Burton B. and Ruth Gray Bennett. How you know. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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 Devonia Inman exited the Augusta State Medical Prison on Monday. Let Justice be done, Justice Nahmias said. At Devonias death penalty trial in 2001, the State suggested that he wore the ski mask as he shot and killed the victim. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. 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. Virginia was born May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Last month, Inmans petition was granted, which forced the state of Georgia to give Inman a new trial. The first episode deals with the death of Donna Brown, the manager of a Taco Bell in Adel who was killed in September 1998, said Chad Campbell, a spokesman for AMC Networks, which operates SundanceTV. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. In July 2021, a new judge was appointed to review the case and is considering the Hercules Brown evidence. 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. When a brutal murder rocks a small Southern town, residents and police are shocked. An official website of the State of Georgia.