Crime

Johnson case: The man who found Donna's body

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Thursday, July 22. 2010

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

Herman Coffey volunteered to look for his neighbor Donna Johnson after he heard she was missing. He ultimately found her body at about 7:20 p.m.

“I am very aware of the anniversary of Donna’s death. It is like yesterday to me.

“I still get mad. Whoever did it came right between me and (then sheriff, now deceased) Frank Monaghan. It was raining so hard you couldn’t see one car length. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Victim's sister, Becky Peterman

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, July 20. 2010

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

By Kay S. Pedrotti

Some of Becky Peterman’s scars from July 16, 1984 go too deep to see; but the pain is etched in her face.

Becky’s life changed irrevocably that day when her sister Donna Johnson was found brutally murdered. The recent death of their mother left Becky the torchbearer in the fight to find Donna’s killer. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Jan Johnson, Vernon Keenan

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 19. 2010

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Part three in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson: [Full Story »]

Donna Johnson died hard

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Walter Geiger

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Sunday, July 18. 2010

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By Walter Geiger

Twenty-six years ago this past Friday, Donna Johnson died a violent death.

Her murder remains unsolved and, for two generations, Lamar countians have remained largely in the dark as to how she died. [Full Story »]

Crime Alert

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Staff Writer

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Friday, July 16. 2010

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There has been an outbreak of entering auto's recently in the city of Barnesville. In this past week, there has been twelve incidents where someone has entered a vehicle and stolen radios, money and even vehicle batteries. [Full Story »]

After 26 years, murder still haunts community

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 12. 2010

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The murder of Donna Johnson on July 16, 1984 changed Barnesville-Lamar County for good.

Many - particularly those in the Piedmont community - began locking doors to their homes which had never before seen a latch.

Firearms permits sold like lemonade on a hot day. [Full Story »]

Gambling raid targets Hot Shot

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Friday, July 2. 2010

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Officers from the Barnesville Police Department and the Lamar County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid July 1 at the Hot Shot store on Veteran's Parkway. [Full Story »]

Spalding deputy jailed for meth

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 29. 2010

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A Spalding County deputy assigned as a detention officer has been arrested for possession of methamphetamine and violation of oath of office. [Full Story »]

Have you seen this man?

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Thursday, June 24. 2010

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Authorities in Spalding and surrounding counties are looking for a black male in connection with an early morning attempted sexual assault at a residence on Rivers Road outside Griffin. [Full Story »]

Smith demands Waller's resignation

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Sherri Ellington

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Tuesday, June 22. 2010

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Days after being cleared of charges of allegedly taping a riot control grenade to an inmate's neck, former LCSO captain Grier T. Smith is calling for sheriff Larry Waller to step down. [Full Story »]

Finalists for judicial nominations named

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Friday, June 18. 2010

Governor Sonny Perdue’s Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) has submitted recommendations to fill two judgeships on the Griffin Judicial Circuit. The two vacancies on the Griffin Judicial Circuit were created by the resignations of Judge Johnnie L. Caldwell, Jr. and Judge Paschal A. English, Jr. [Full Story »]

Smith cleared, rips Waller

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 15. 2010

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Former LCSO captain Grier T. Smith was cleared by the June term Lamar County grand jury today of charges filed against him for allegedly taping a riot control grenade to an inmates neck.

[Full Story »]

Statements from officials on English-Cornwell affair

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 15. 2010

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Four officials involved in the court-ordered investigation of the now confirmed in appropriate relationship between former judge Paschal L. English Jr. and public defender Kimberly Cornwell have issued statements. [Full Story »]

Chase ends in suicide on I-75 here

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Laura Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 15. 2010

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Will Davis, Monroe County Reporter

A Marietta woman led Monroe County sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase up and down I-75 early Sunday morning before shooting and killing herself in her car. [Full Story »]

English-Cornwell affair confirmed

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, June 11. 2010

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Griffin circuit district attorney Scott Ballard and chief public defender Joseph Saia confirmed Friday an inappropriate relationship involving former judge Paschal L. English Jr. and public defender Kimberly Cornwell. [Full Story »]