A former caregiver was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2013 beating death of a mentally challenged woman, the Newton County District Attorney’s Office said today.

Cornelius Richardson-Bethea was convicted of malice murder and abuse of a disabled adult in the death of 47-year-old Susan Walter. For each conviction, Richardson-Bethea received life sentences without parole, according to Melanie Bell, chief assistant DA for Newton County.

In March 2013, deputies were called to Richardson-Bethea's home in the 10000 block of Strathinge Trail near Covington, where they found Walter beaten to death, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.

“Deputies found the victim’s body with bruises all over … and around her head and shoulders,” a sheriff’s office spokeswoman previously said.

Walter was Richardson-Bethea’s only client, and there was no one else in the home when deputies arrived, authorities said. Walter’s death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma.

Richardson was arrested two days after police were called to the home.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The air traffic control tower is seen on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, while smoke rises from the crash site of UPS flight 2976 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky. (Jon Cherry/AP)

Credit: AP

Featured

Travelers walk around the baggage claim in the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Atlanta is among the airports where the FAA will reduce flights due to the shutdown, and airports are facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez