Could witness Gary Allen Stroupe really have seen Justin Chapman at 200 feet away from his front porch at 3 a.m.? Reporter Bill Rankin makes a nighttime visit to Bremen to find out.

Also, hear for yourself the appalingly long list of mistakes and missed opportunities that sunk Justin Chapman's chances for a new trial and an appeal – the latest series of breakdowns exposed in “Breakdown.”

In this first season of Breakdown, senior legal affairs writer Bill Rankin goes deep inside the Chapman case, exploring where the criminal justice system broke down. You can listen to the Breakdown podcast below, or visit www.ajcbreakdown.com for the first three episodes, plus photos, articles, videos and more related information.

Keep Reading

Ernie Suggs, a reporter at the AJC since 1997, reviews a selection of articles he has contributed to during his time with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

University of Georgia students are seen entering and leaving the main Library on the Athens campus on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez