The only noise you ever heard around here was children playing, the minister The court finds that prosecutors withheld critical evidence in the case of Devonia Inman that was featured in AJCs Breakdown podcast. Penny was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. In 1998, the manager of an Adel Taco Bell was robbed and shot in the parking lot of the restaurant. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. Facebook page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Twitter page for Georgia Bureau of Investigation, https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. 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. You can learn more here on our blog. 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. The agency said the 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. 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. Devonia Inman embraces family upon release. Devonia was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown in Adel, Georgia. Bryant Kenney, age 50 of Adel, was arrested Wednesday. 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. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. 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. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Alapaha Judicial Circuit Chase Studstill filed a motion to dismiss the underlying charges, which Chief Judge Clayton Tomlinson granted Monday morning. 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. Episode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. 33 Local News 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. But unfortunately, as of today, Devonia is still behind bars. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. At the noticed date and time, (he) failed and refused to appear, according to Grahams order. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. 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.. Payne and Robinsons final cause of death will be determined during the autopsy by the GBI Medical Examiners Office in Macon. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. 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 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. 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. GAPS - Georgia Applicant Processing Service, Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions, Obtaining Criminal History Record Information, The investigation is active and ongoing. All rights reserved. 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. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. No physical evidence linked Devonia to There are flower festivals and a quaint street adorned with family-run mom-and-pop shows. Devonia Inman exited the Augusta State Medical Prison on Monday. 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. The investigation is active and ongoing. 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. Violent offenses tracked included rape, She was carrying $1,732 in cash that she was going to deposit at a bank. This homicide further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the continuous bloodshed. 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 CH 27 UHF 44.3 miles away. Tavares Askew, How you know. Episode Four "Cookeville, Tenn." Premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. New true-crime TV series launches with Adel murder. Twenty-year-old Devonia Inman, Wilson and Pickett were already in custody in the Lowndes County jail on unrelated charges. 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. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. The closest similar sized city with FBI crime data is the city of , . 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. Could the new guy in town be the one who who did it? If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. In September 2019, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the AGs attempt to appeal. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. 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. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. The only evidence against Devonia came from witness testimony. When Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kristina Cook Graham ruled that Devonias habeas could proceed, the AG tried to appeal her decision.. 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. 13-00576 [2] GNIS feature ID. 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. Unfortunately for Devonia, he had almost all of the odds stacked against him. 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. With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here debuts 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, on the SundanceTV channel. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Adel, GA (December 21, 2020) On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBI and Adel PD arrested Lebray Berrian, 32, of Adel. Devonia Inman exited the Augusta 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). Berrian was booked into the Cook County Jail. To set the scene, Adel is a little town with a population under 5,000. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. There was only one persons DNA on the mask: Hercules Browns.. It was higher than in 96.5% U.S. cities. (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. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. But heres where things get even crazier. 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. The investigation is active and ongoing. An official website of the State of Georgia. Episode Two "Sauquoit, New York" Premieres Sept. 16 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. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. 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. 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. 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. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. 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. Case solved. In many rural areas, the local law enforcement is not accustomed to handling violent crime and homicide because they simply dont occur as often. Then a newspaper carrier came forward to finger Devonia as the murderer, but her testimony changed. 0354262 [3] Website. 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. 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, Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. An official website of the State of Georgia. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. 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. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. 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. The victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. As Hilarie talks to his family, its devasting to hear how they thought the DNA would mean Devonia would go free from prison. 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. Of the four critical States witnesses against Devonia, three have recanted their testimony saying they were pressured or coerced by police. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jessica Cino - It Couldn't Happen Here _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Southern hospitality is a must. 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 testimony of three would-be witnesses Inmans lawyer wanted to call was also denied by the trial court, according to appeals court documents. It seems to be a likely mix of racial profiling and Devonia surrounding himself with the wrong kind of people. Hercules Brown. family and Georgias exoneree community. While Inmans future is bright, there is still a long road ahead. Years go by until the police catch the killer, but some in town question if the suspect is even capable of committing this crime. Last month, Inmans petition was granted, which forced the state of Georgia to give Inman a new trial. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits After Innocence and the Northern California Innocence Project. Unlike Donnas case, Shaileshs murderer was never found, and the case is still marked as unsolved. Will wealth and status protect a killer, or will a determined police officer crack the case? What should WTXL be covering in this community. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. WebSUMMERVILLE In 2001, Devonia Tyrone Inman was convicted of killing a woman in Adel. 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. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. His death was also soon overshadowed by a gruesome double-homicide seven months later, in November 2000. Miss Virginia Gensie Bennett, 90, passed away February 20, 2023 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. 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. He pleaded guilty to their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence. 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. Hercules Brown worked at the very same Taco Bell as Donna Brown at the same time and would often work closing shifts. When police arrived, there was a large crowd fleeing the area. (The US average is 22.7) Adel property crime is 69.0. Court Grants Devonia Inmans Habeas Corpus Petition! WebEpisode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. Adel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. EDITOR'S NOTE: In late December 2021, Devonia Inman was exonerated of the conviction that sent him to prison. 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. 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. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here is a compelling look at the way true crime impacts small towns. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. A Georgia man's murder conviction and life sentence should be reexamined, say two Georgia Supreme Court justices and the murder victim's sister. But then another murder happens. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. 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. WebCrime in Adel, Georgia. Kenney This went against the courts original story that Devonia had murdered Donna Brown alone. 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. An outsider as the murderer, but her testimony changed Judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for corpus... 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