The fallout continues to grow following our investigation into a metro Atlanta tax preparer with a history of fraud.

“The person she turned out to be was just pure evil,” a victim said.

Dozens of firefighters, paramedics and police now say Ruth Barr, an elected official in Hapeville, targeted them as clients.

Why thousands of victims could have to pay back millions of dollars in bogus refunds. Read the story on myAJC.com and in this Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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The GBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting Saturday night, saying that an officer shot a man who pointed a gun at police. The man, identified as Volanta Lejuan Walker of Douglasville, is suspected of killing his wife, who was laying in the yard near Walker when police arrived, the GBI said. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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Amy Bielawski, who runs Hare-Brained Productions, prepares to work at a Fall Festival in Stone Mountain on Oct. 4, 2025. Bielawski is worried she may not be able to afford health care through Georgia Access when subsidies expire. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC