Web229. Now a superior court judge in Chattooga County has filed an order saying she (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. 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. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. 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. Alapaha Judicial Circuit Chase Studstill filed a motion to dismiss the underlying charges, which Chief Judge Clayton Tomlinson granted Monday morning. On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. As Hilarie talks to his family, its devasting to hear how they thought the DNA would mean Devonia would go free from prison. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Berrian was booked into the Cook County Jail. 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. Over 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? 33 Local News Episode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. A Chattooga County Superior Court Judge has granted Devonia Inmans habeas Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? The first three episodes are now available to view on Screeners.com. With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. ADEL A new true-crime documentary series hitting TV screens next week starts off with a look at a 20-year-old You can read both press releases on this case on the GBIs website. Unlike Donnas case, Shaileshs murderer was never found, and the case is still marked as unsolved. WebDonna Brown, a night manager at a Taco Bell in Adel, Georgia, was murdered in 1998 in the restaurants parking lot. 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! Devonia Inman embraces family upon release. 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. 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. Without one, exonerees like Devonia Inman are left on their own, with virtually no support from the State, to rebuild their lives. Georgias Attorney General sought to dismiss the habeas and keep Devonia in prison. 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 City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. The victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, 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. Miss Virginia Gensie Bennett, 90, passed away February 20, 2023 in Adel, Georgia. 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. It was higher than in 96.5% U.S. cities. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. High 83F. Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. Mordons body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. Its still unclear as to why the police believed that Devonia had killed Donna. Kenney was charged with murder and aggravated assault. Episode Six "Rockville/Ellington, Conn." Premieres Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. 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. 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. Great News! Brown was the night manager at the Taco Bell there and was shot in the parking lot as she left work after closing up for the night. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. (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. Donna had been working late and walked out of the shop alone after closing up. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. 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. 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). 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. When a beloved chiropractor in Sauquoit, N.Y., dies suddenly under strange circumstances, investigators discover she's been murdered with a rare poison. 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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Following a June 2021 contested hearing, Judge Graham granted Inmans habeas corpus petition. 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. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Mr. Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. 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. 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. 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. You can read bothpress releases on this case on the GBIs website. 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. Penny was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. Nonetheless, he has sat in jail for more than two decades now. Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits After Innocence and the Northern California Innocence Project. Could the new guy in town be the one who who did it? He was freed after wrongly being imprisoned for 23 years. Welcome back to Murderville, Georgia. 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. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. For more than two decades, Inman has maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the Taco Bell Murder. There was only one persons DNA on the mask: Hercules Browns.. Will wealth and status protect a killer, or will a determined police officer crack the case? Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. 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. 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 First, a quick recap. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. ABC 27.1; Bounce TV 27.2; Grit 27.3; Ion Mystery 27.4; Court TV 27.4; An official website of the State of Georgia. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. 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. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Hercules Brown worked at the very same Taco Bell as Donna Brown at the same time and would often work closing shifts. 0354262 [3] Website. No physical evidence linked Devonia to The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. 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. 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. "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" investigates the distinctive ways in which crime impacts rural communities and their judicial systems. 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. New episodes of True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here air Thursdays at 10/9c on SundanceTV. Despite multiple discrepancies and according to the Georgia Innocence Project, a lack of physical evidence linking Inman to the crime, Inman was sentenced to life in prison without parole. 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. You can learn more, Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. 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. What is your favorite part of The Valdosta Daily Times? Copyright 2021 WALB. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. He says it was suicide, but her family believes it was murder. When police arrived, there was a large crowd fleeing the area. But then another murder happens. You can learn more here on our blog. 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.. Then a newspaper carrier came forward to finger Devonia as the murderer, but her testimony changed. WebWe found 14 TV stations broadcasting 57 digital TV channels in the Adel, Georgia, area, including local CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and CW affiliates. Inman is an inmate at Hays State Prison, located in Chattooga County. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. WebAdel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. More than 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question: Is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? 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. 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. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. 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. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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. Violent offenses tracked included rape, This went against the courts original story that Devonia had murdered Donna Brown alone. WebBack in 1998, Donna Brown, a manager at the Taco Bell in tiny Adel, Georgia, was murdered in the parking lot after closing up for the night. 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 responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? 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. 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. 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