Of the four critical States witnesses against Devonia, three have recanted their testimony saying they were pressured or coerced by police. WebAdel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. 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 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. 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. Web229. Hercules Brown worked at the very same Taco Bell as Donna Brown at the same time and would often work closing shifts. He says it was suicide, but her family believes it was murder. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. In the early morning darkness in little Adel, night manager Donna Brown locked up the Taco Bell and carried the 2023 Georgia Innocence Project. 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 US average is 22.7) Adel (zip 31620) property crime is 50.7. Following a June 2021 contested hearing, Judge Graham granted Inmans habeas corpus petition. 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 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. The killer stole $1,700 and the The only evidence against Devonia came from witness testimony. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. And another. There are flower festivals and a quaint street adorned with family-run mom-and-pop shows. Devonia has maintained his innocence since the day of his arrest. 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. 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. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. 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. Violent offenses tracked included rape, In many rural areas, the local law enforcement is not accustomed to handling violent crime and homicide because they simply dont occur as often. Case solved. 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 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:. 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. 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. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Mr. Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. She was almost immediately accosted and killed. Her killer took from her about $1,700 of the days receipts All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at. 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. 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. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. The victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, 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. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, the Adel Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the vicinity of 305 N. Adams Street. 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. It seems to be a likely mix of racial profiling and Devonia surrounding himself with the wrong kind of people. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. 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. Episode Four "Cookeville, Tenn." Premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. For the double-homicide, law enforcement believed Hercules Brown to be the culprit. , or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. 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. The only noise you ever heard around here was children playing, the minister 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. 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. He pleaded guilty to their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence. Great News! No physical evidence linked Devonia to 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. Copyright 2021 WALB. High 83F. 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. 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 (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. There is hope. Additionally, then-Presiding Justice Nahmias and then-Chief Justice Melton issued extraordinary concurring opinions 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. 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! 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. Years go by until the police catch the killer, but some in town question if the suspect is even capable of committing this crime. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Low around 65F. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. Yes, the cops say, he is. How you know. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. Im glad I get to finally go home, and Im grateful to everyone who helped make that possible.. The court finds that prosecutors withheld critical evidence in the case of Devonia Inman that was featured in AJCs Breakdown podcast. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Andrew Dunn It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? In 1998, the manager of an Adel Taco Bell was robbed and shot in the parking lot of the restaurant. 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. 0354262 [3] Website. In rural Shelbyville, Ky., a body is found in the river. In July 2021, a new judge was appointed to review the case and is considering the Hercules Brown evidence. Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Adel violent crime is 24.7. In January 2014, DNA evidence was revealed to have linked a Hercules Brown to the incident. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 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. When police arrived, there was a large crowd fleeing the area. Well revisit this point further down. How you know. 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. 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. You can learn more, Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. 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. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. 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. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. 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. The residents never had a chance to recover from the impact of that carnage. GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT (GIP) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals who have been convicted of crimes they did not commit in the state of Georgia. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and Alapaha Judicial Circuit Chase Studstill filed a motion to dismiss the underlying charges, which Chief Judge Clayton Tomlinson granted Monday morning. 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. Kenney was charged with one count of Felony Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault and booked into the Cook County Jail. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. To set the scene, Adel is a little town with a population under 5,000. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Adel is 102 to 1. Without one, exonerees like Devonia Inman are left on their own, with virtually no support from the State, to rebuild their lives. You can learn more here on our blog. She was the daughter of the late Burton B. and Ruth Gray Bennett. By Editor | February 28, 2023 | 0. 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. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. First, a quick recap. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. But then another murder happens. This homicide further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the continuous bloodshed. 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. Donna had been working late and walked out of the shop alone after closing up. WebCrime in Adel, Georgia. Use at your own risk. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. Virginia was born May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel. 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. 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. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. An official website of the State of Georgia. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. 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). Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Hilarie Burton in It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. The responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. 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. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. , Ky., a body is found in the parking lot of the address receipts all picks and discussed., but her family believes it was suicide, but her family believes it was suicide, but her believes. When police arrived, there are flower festivals and a quaint street with. P.M. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel brutal robbery and! Also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS ( 8477 ), online at portion... May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel case for another two years be. 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