She determined that Inmans constitutional rights were violated, including by the prosecutions failure to disclose evidence suggesting Hercules Brown committed the crime. She was almost immediately accosted and killed. 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. Later, a juvenile was also identified as a third gunshot victim. Episode One "Adel, Georgia" Premieres September 9 at 10 p.m. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Penny was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. This homicide further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the continuous bloodshed. 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 The juvenile was taken into custody without incident. But unfortunately, as of today, Devonia is still behind bars. 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. 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. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. An official website of the State of Georgia. 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. 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. 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. It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasnt guilty. The testimony of three would-be witnesses Inmans lawyer wanted to call was also denied by the trial court, according to appeals court documents. Hilarie Burton Morgan and Andrew Dunn It Couldnt Happen Here Season 1 Photo Credit: SundanceTV. 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 Kenney was charged with murder and aggravated assault. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. 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. An official website of the State of Georgia. In the early morning darkness in little Adel, night manager Donna Brown locked up the Taco Bell and carried the 2023 Georgia Innocence Project. ABC 27.1; Bounce TV 27.2; Grit 27.3; Ion Mystery 27.4; Court TV 27.4; Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Adel Police Department (229) 896-2224 or the GBI Region 4 office (912) 389-4103. 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. In this episode, Hilarie spends time chatting with Devonias family, including his family and his son. 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 residents never had a chance to recover from the impact of that carnage. Exoneree support services will be offered by the independent nonprofits. In September 2019, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the AGs attempt to appeal. Episode Two "Sauquoit, New York" Premieres Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. 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. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didnt do, Inman said in a statement provided by the Georgia Innocence Project. You can learn more, Instead, the AG continued to fight the case for another two years. The killer stole $1,700 and the On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the GBIs Douglas Office received a request from the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. 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. When a brutal murder rocks a small Southern town, residents and police are shocked. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, See how your Pennsylvania county ranks on voter friendliness with this interactive scorecard, Hillsborough school board member "on the fence" as vote on boundaries looms, Girls basketball playoffs: Wildcats, Warriors move to region finals. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. New episodes of True Crime Story: It Couldnt Happen Here air Thursdays at 10/9c on SundanceTV. Use at your own risk. Upon officers arrival, they found Tenesha Mordon deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. 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 investigation is active and ongoing. 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. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. 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. WebCrime in Adel, Georgia. Devonia has maintained his innocence since the day of his arrest. At the noticed date and time, (he) failed and refused to appear, according to Grahams order. Following a June 2021 contested hearing, Judge Graham granted Inmans habeas corpus petition. 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). 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. On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the GBIs Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Adel Police Department to assist with a death investigation. What is your favorite part of The Valdosta Daily Times? 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 is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Adel (zip 31620) violent crime is 39.0. Welcome back to Murderville, Georgia. Hercules Brown. 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.. 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 www .cityofadel .us. 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. A key portion of Judge Grahams order involves testimony by the other inmate that never occurred. 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. The Adel Police Department responded to a 911 call at 500 N. Gordon Avenue, Adel, Cook County, GA, in reference to an unresponsive person. Devonia Inman embraces family upon release. All three subjects were already in custody on previous charges, the press release states. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. Other Georgia Exonerations. 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. To set the scene, Adel is a little town with a population under 5,000. Based on what we find out, Devonia did have a violent streak, as his girlfriend testified to him being abusive. When officers arrived, they found Penny deceased. The killer stole $1,700 and the victims car. Violent offenses tracked included rape, 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. His release comes one month after a superior court judge granted Devonia Inmans petition for habeas corpus relief. In January 2014, DNA evidence was revealed to have linked a Hercules Brown to the incident. Episode Four "Cookeville, Tenn." Premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. WebThere was no hard evidence connecting Inman to the murder, which had taken place around 2 a.m. on September 19, 1998. Then a newspaper carrier came forward to finger Devonia as the murderer, but her testimony changed. 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. Incentivized Witnesses, Murder 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. Inman is an inmate at Hays State Prison, located in Chattooga County. She was the daughter of the late Burton B. and Ruth Gray Bennett. It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasnt guilty. (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. He pleaded guilty to their murders to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence. 13-00576 [2] GNIS feature ID. Later, she even recanted her statement in a letter. 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. 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. True Crime Network 6.5; MyNetworkTV 6.6; View Station Details. Youd think this breakthrough, along with the unreliable witnesses and recanted testimony, would be enough to earn Devonia a new trial. 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. Well revisit this point further down. Units were then dispatched to a nearby convenience store where Whitehead was found, also suffering from a gunshot wound. A decade later, DNA evidence taken from a makeshift ski mask found in Donna Browns car matched the other inmate, the judges order said. New true-crime TV series launches with Adel murder. 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. 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. But in their rush to make an arrest, do they get the wrong man? You can read both press releases on this case on the GBIs website. 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. 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. More than 20 years later, new evidence raises a startling question: Is an innocent man serving life for another man's crime? (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. Preliminary findings of the autopsy is that Pennys death is ruled as a homicide. 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. 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. Kenney With this nightmare behind him, Inman plans to rejoin his family in California and begin the journey of readjusting and healing. 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. , or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Our mission is to prevent and correct wrongful convictions while also connecting freed clients to resources to rebuild their lives. When four brutal murders happened in 1998 and 2000, it rocked the entire town. 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. 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. Devonia Inman, a Black teen with a history of run-ins with the police, was almost immediately targeted for the murder. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. No physical evidence linked Devonia to Copyright 2021 WALB. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Discuss Adel, Georgia (GA) on our hugely popular Georgia forum. In July 2021, a new judge was appointed to review the case and is considering the Hercules Brown evidence. Berrian was booked into the Cook County Jail. Further horrified a community that was already shaken and grieving from the impact of that carnage on... 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