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. 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. 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. (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 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.. Episode Six "Rockville/Ellington, Conn." Premieres Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits After Innocence and the Northern California Innocence Project. Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Adel violent crime is 24.7. Low around 65F. ADEL A new true-crime documentary series hitting TV screens next week starts off with a look at a 20-year-old 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. ABC 27.1; Bounce TV 27.2; Grit 27.3; Ion Mystery 27.4; Court TV 27.4; Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. Later, she even recanted her statement in a letter. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. In 2018, a legal team led by Tom Reilley and Tiffany Bracewell of Troutman Pepper, with GIP attorneys acting as consultants, filed a habeas corpus petition once again seeking freedom for Devonia. Virginia attended Cross Roads School and graduated from Sparks Adel High School. Why is it so hard to right a wrong in Georgia? 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. For the double-homicide, law enforcement believed Hercules Brown to be the culprit. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here is a compelling look at the way true crime impacts small towns. The agency said the But unfortunately, as of today, Devonia is still behind bars. An official website of the State of Georgia. WebThere was no hard evidence connecting Inman to the murder, which had taken place around 2 a.m. on September 19, 1998. Episode Five "Shelbyville, Ky." Premieres Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. The responding officers found Quinten Payne, 34, deceased with gunshot wounds. Welcome back to Murderville, Georgia. In 2001, Devonia Tyrone Inman was convicted of killing Brown and sentenced to life in prison without parole. 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. Someone murdered Caroll Bennet, a beloved local grocer, and his employee Rebecca Browning. Use at your own risk. Berrian was booked into the Cook County Jail. Episode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. 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. Despite having an alibi and no physical or reliable evidence tying him to the crime, Devonia was convicted for armed robbery and malice murder. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. , or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Unfortunately for Devonia, he had almost all of the odds stacked against him. 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. (The US average is 22.7) Adel (zip 31620) property crime is 50.7. You can read bothpress releases on this case on the GBIs website. When Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kristina Cook Graham ruled that Devonias habeas could proceed, the AG tried to appeal her decision.. Our mission is to prevent and correct wrongful convictions while also connecting freed clients to resources to rebuild their lives. 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. 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. More than 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question: Is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? When a brutal murder rocks a small Southern town, residents and police are shocked. When a 22-year-old dancer goes missing, the men of the neighboring town who frequented the club become the suspect pool. 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. Mordons body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 33 Local News When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee, FL. Its still unclear as to why the police believed that Devonia had killed Donna. First, a quick recap. The case went back to the local district court to either re-prosecute Inamn, offer a plea deal or dismiss the charges. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. 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. 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. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. All rights reserved. And another. Case solved. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. Devonia Inman exited the Augusta 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. The town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. 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). 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. But there was no real evidence linking him to Donnas murder. 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 investigation is active and ongoing. But in their rush to make an arrest, do they get the wrong man? 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. By Editor | February 28, 2023 | 0. 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. As a result, sometimes killers walk free, or in the case of the shows first episode, the wrong man might wind up behind bars. Years go by until the police catch the killer, but some in town question if the suspect is even capable of committing this crime. 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. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jessica Cino - It Couldn't Happen Here _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: SundanceTV. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. In the series premiere, the town of Adel is rocked by a brutal robbery homicide and locals quickly point to an outsider as the killer. 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.. Tavares Askew, Nonetheless, he has sat in jail for more than two decades now. But heres where things get even crazier. WebDonna Brown, a night manager at a Taco Bell in Adel, Georgia, was murdered in 1998 in the restaurants parking lot. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. In this episode, Hilarie spends time chatting with Devonias family, including his family and his son. Published: Feb. 24, 2022 at 2:10 PM PST. 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. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Yes, the cops say, he is. 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. 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 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 investigation is active and ongoing. 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. Yep. When a beloved chiropractor in Sauquoit, N.Y., dies suddenly under strange circumstances, investigators discover she's been murdered with a rare poison. 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. He pleaded guilty to their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence. Virginia was born May 5, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of Adel. With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. The first three episodes are now available to view on Screeners.com. (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. Officers found Pierce in the parking lot of a nearby business with a gunshot wound. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at (229) 896-2224. 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. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 5,571. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. 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. By WALB News Team. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. Devonia has maintained his innocence since the day of his arrest. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. She was the daughter of the late Burton B. and Ruth Gray Bennett. The investigation is active and ongoing. It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasnt guilty. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. 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. Episode Four "Cookeville, Tenn." Premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. 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. 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. Now a superior court judge in Chattooga County has filed an order saying she When police arrived, there was a large crowd fleeing the area. Justice, not victory, is our chief goal. So say GA attorney general defends murder conviction despite justices concerns Outlet: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Author: Bill Rankin Published: 12/19/2019 Read: Here We have more EXCITING NEWS in the Devonia Inman case! 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. 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 victim, a single mother named Donna Brown, Other Georgia Exonerations. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. The GBI was requested by APD to assist with the investigation on April 14, 2019. All rights reserved. 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. 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. A Georgia man's murder conviction and life sentence should be reexamined, say two Georgia Supreme Court justices and the murder victim's sister. Let Justice be done, Justice Nahmias said. On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, the Adel Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the vicinity of 305 N. Adams Street. Miss Virginia Gensie Bennett, 90, passed away February 20, 2023 in Adel, Georgia. In rural Shelbyville, Ky., a body is found in the river. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. The juvenile was treated for a minor injury and released. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. Episode Three "St. Augustine, Fla." Premieres Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. A young woman in St. Augustine, Fla. with everything to live for is found shot to death with the gun belonging to her boyfriend, a deputy sheriff. No physical evidence linked Devonia to 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. WebAdel is the type of place where everyone knows everyone, and maintaining a tight-knit community is important to the locals. 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. You can learn more, Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. 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