Crime

Two locals arrested in Upson break-in

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Thursday, August 26. 2010

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A Barnesville man and his male juvenile companion were arrested for a break-in at a speculative building at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport earlier this week. [Full Story »]

Clark granted change of venue

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Staff Writer

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Friday, August 20. 2010

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Accused killer Jennifer Clark has been granted a change of venue, moving her trial out of Lamar County. [Full Story »]

Hey! Get a room

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, August 19. 2010

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Two Barnesville men were charged with public indecency by Monroe County authorities after residents on Mayfield Road there observed them engaged in a sex act. [Full Story »]

Vaughn motion to recover property denied

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, August 18. 2010

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During a brief hearing Aug. 12, Superior Court Judge William Fears denied all motions related to Randolph 'Rudy' Vaughn's attempt to recover property confiscated during his arrest and conviction in an interstate theft ring. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Exhumation laid some rumors to rest

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, August 13. 2010

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Part 13 in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

As part of his revisitation of the Donna Johnson murder case in 2005, then-sheriff Joe Buice had the victim’s body exhumed from Crystal Hill cemetery in Thomaston and examined at the GBI crime lab in Decatur.

The exhumation took place on March 17, 2005. [Full Story »]

Crawford, Sams selected for judgeships

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, August 10. 2010

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Pike County's Mack Crawford and Fletcher Sams of Fayette County will be appointed to the two vacant Griffin circuit judicial posts. [Full Story »]

Cops: Johnson crime scene preserved

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, August 9. 2010

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Part 12 in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Two law enforcement officers who were engaged in the search for Donna Johnson 26 years ago dispute claims made by others that evidence at the scene was destroyed by responding rescue personnel.

Larry Whitlock was the GBI agent assigned to Lamar County at that time. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Family sought special prosecutor

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Walter Geiger

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Saturday, August 7. 2010

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Part 12 in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Members of murder victim Donna Johnson’s family, working through a prominent local minister, attempted to have a special prosecutor appointed to the case in 2006. [Full Story »]

I-75 crash kills one, snarls traffic

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Laura Geiger

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Friday, August 6. 2010

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A fatality accident on I-75 in Lamar County near the High Falls Rd. exit killed one and left traffic snarled for about nine hours Friday.
[Full Story »]

Johnson case: Byron Smith, Chuck Ledbetter, Rick McCreary

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Thursday, August 5. 2010

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Part 11 in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Judge E. Byron Smith:

Smith was Flint Circuit District Attorney at the time of the murder and is now a senior judge serving in the Griffin circuit.

“When I got to the scene, I remarked that they better catch somebody tonight because people had trampled all over the evidence. “Over the years, we had all kinds of suspects and evidence come up but none of it ever panned out. I always figured it was a serial killer just passing through the area or a random event. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Richard Walter, Richard Milam

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, August 2. 2010

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Part 10 in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Richard Walter:

Richard Walter is a forensic psychologist, criminal profiler and member of The Vidocq Society.

“Since 2005, I have talked with the sheriff (Larry Waller) and former sheriff Buice, about going over the pieces in the Donna Johnson case. I think that in 2005, if they (the investigators and district attorney) did not understand the scenario, then it becomes ‘just information.’ [Full Story »]

The impact of entomology on the Johnson murder case

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Friday, July 30. 2010

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Part nine in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Mortician Kenny Coggins was washing murder victim Donna Johnson’s hair while preparing her body for the funeral when he noticed fly larvae.

The same debris in Johnson’s hair had been previously noted by another investigator who passed it off as sawdust and thought perhaps it indicated Johnson had been killed in a sawmill. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Joe Buice, Chuck Keadle, Larry Waller

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, July 28. 2010

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Part eight in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Joe Buice:

Joe Buice is former sheriff of Lamar County and reemphasized the Johnson investigation in 2005.

“We felt like we had enough evidence to take the case to trial. We had a big meeting with the GBI and the folks from the district attorney’s office in December 2005. I begged and pleaded with the GBI but they fought me the whole way.” [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Vickie Green Harris, Vickie Hulett, Tom Davis

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 26. 2010

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Part seven in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Vickie Green Harris:

Vickie Green Harris, ex-wife of local law enforcement officer Cicero Green, was briefly the first wife of Donna Johnson’s widower Jimmy Johnson and a lifelong friend of Donna and her sister Becky Peterman.

“I’ve known Becky and Donna since we all went to church and Becky and I went to Milner school together. I still talk to Becky a lot, we’ve been good friends through the years. I know the pain this family has been through. [Full Story »]

Johnson Case: Rene Hood Chamblee

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, July 23. 2010

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Part six in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

By Rachel McDaniel

Former sheriff’s investigator René Hood Chamblee was the first officer on the scene after Donna Johnson’s car was found at the dumpsters.

“I knew Donna and the Johnson family and the events of that day are burned into my brain.

About six hours after we found the car we found her body ... about a quarter mile down the road. [Full Story »]