Crime & Public Safety

Georgia cases featured on true-crime shows

The list: Georgia murder and crime cases featured on podcasts, television shows and films
Georgia crime cases are a popular subject on true-crime podcasts.
Georgia crime cases are a popular subject on true-crime podcasts.
Updated March 13, 2023

If you’re listening to true-crime podcasts, you’re hearing a lot about Georgia. From “Up and Vanished” to the AJC’s own “Breakdown,” the explosion of true crime podcasts has introduced millions of listeners to crime cases across the state. Some programs such as “Breakdown” or “The Fall Line” investigate a single case over the course of a season. Others follow single-episode formats and cherry-pick notorious Georgia events for quick recaps or discussions.

And it’s not just podcasts. Georgia true-crime has shown up to television too, where it’s not uncommon to find programs on Wayne Williams or JonBenet Ramsey. Documentary-style police procedurals such as “The First 48” and “ATL Homicide” have given viewers an inside look at police department investigations and unsolved cases.

The list of podcast episodes below is grouped by the crime case each reports on, in reverse-chronological order based on the date of the crime or disappearance. We’ll update this list as we find more examples.

"Atlanta Monster," from the producers of "Up and Vanished," covers the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children cases of 1979-1981.
"Atlanta Monster," from the producers of "Up and Vanished," covers the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children cases of 1979-1981.

THE 2010s-present

2024

Laken Riley murder (Athens, Clarke County)

2023

Georgia election interference case (Trump and allies) (Fulton County)

2022

Fulton County special purpose grand jury (Trump call to Raffensperger) (Fulton County)

2021

Robert Aaron Long (spa shooting) murders (Atlanta and Cherokee County)

Bobby Kicklighter murder (Glennville, Tattnall County)

Elijah James Wood murder (Watkinsville, Oconee County)

2020

Kevil Wingo death (Cobb County)

Ahmaud Arbery shooting (Brunswick, Glynn County)

Breakdown podcast from the AJC

The AJC’s Breakdown podcast tells true crime stories about Georgia criminal cases in compelling audio. The largest newsroom in the southeast delivers investigations and true crime cases that you cannot find anywhere else.

Atlanta Podcasts from the AJC

Explore the latest epsiode of these podcasts about Atlanta from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including Atlanta sports teams, things to do in Atlanta, Georgia politics and elections, Georgia true crime and newsmakers.

Politically Georgia: Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy offer fact-based news on Georgia politics and the 2022 election.

Hawks Report: Host Lauren Williams interviews players, coaches and experts of interest to Atlanta Hawks fans.

Things to Do in Atlanta: Get ready for the weekend with this podcast about things to do and places to go this week in Atlanta

Breakdown: The award-winning Georgia true crime podcast hosted by journalist Bill Rankin. The current season explores The Trump Grand Jury in Georgia examining the 2020 presidential election

Each of our podcasts are also on Spotify, Castbox and Stitcher. No matter where you listen to AJC podcasts, be sure to subscribe and review.

2019

Marianne Shockley (UGA professor) death (Milledgeville, Baldwin County)

2018

Tamla Horsford death (Cumming, Forsyth County)

Spencer Herron case (Marietta, Cobb County)

2017

Jenna Van Gelderen disappearance (Atlanta, DeKalb County)

Lamora Williams case (Atlanta)

2016

Daniel Triplett murder (Waynesboro, Burke)

Donald “DJ” Fickey death (Flintstone, Walker County)

Randisha Love murder (College Park, Fulton)

DeCorrius Jones disappearance (Gwinnett County)

Jessica Boynton shooting (Griffin, Spalding County)

Bridget Shiel murder (Atlanta)

Reggie Coicou/Quincy Wytche murders (Atlanta)

Tex McIver murder case (Atlanta)

2015

Anthony Hill shooting (Chamblee, DeKalb County)

Alleged “SD cards” rapes (Cherokee County)

2014

Jonathan Gurley murder (Thomson, McDuffie County)

Russell & Shirley Dermond (Lake Oconee) murders (Putnam County)

Ross Harris (hot car death) murder case (Cobb County)

James Dempsey (“granny cam”) death (Atlanta)

2013

Kendrick Johnson (gym mat death) case (Valdosta, Lowndes County)

Elizabeth Butler arrest, as seen on “COPS” (Lawrenceville, Gwinnett)

Tiffany Whitton disappearance (Marietta, Cobb County)

2012

Samuel Little serial killing murders (various counties)

2010

Hemy Neuman (Dunwoody Day Care) murder case (Dunwoody)

The AJC's "Breakdown" podcast, now in its sixth season, covers breakdowns in Georgia's legal system.
The AJC's "Breakdown" podcast, now in its sixth season, covers breakdowns in Georgia's legal system.

THE 2000s

2009

Brian Wehrle disappearance (Carrollton, Carroll County)

Narendra Gupta abuse case (Johns Creek, Fulton County)

2008

Meredith Emerson killing/Gary Michael Hilton (”National Forest Serial Killer”) (Dawson Forest/Dawson County)

2006

Doris Worrell murder (Douglas, Coffee County)

Justin Chapman case (Bremen, Haralson County)

2005

Tara Grinstead murder (Ocilla, Irwin & Ben Hill counties)

Brian Nichols escape/murders (Atlanta)

2004

Eugene Denton murder (bitemark case) (Waycross, Ware County)

2003

Cedartown Jane Doe (Cedartown, Polk County)

Twiggs County John Doe (Twiggs County)

2002

Tri-State Crematory scandal (Noble, Walker Countly)

Dwight York (Nuwaubians) sex crimes (Eatonton, Putnam County)

Wideman family murders (Rebecca, Turner County)

Bill “Bo Peep” disappearance (Jefferson County)

2001

Tara Louise Baker murder (Athens, Clarke County)

2000

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin case (Atlanta)

Sidney Dorsey / Derwin Brown murder (DeKalb County)

Joey Watkins murder case (Rome, Floyd County)

Jacinth Baker/Richard Lollar murders (Ray Lewis trial) (Atlanta)

"The Fall Line" has covered cold-case disappearances in Augusta and Brunswick in its first two seasons.
"The Fall Line" has covered cold-case disappearances in Augusta and Brunswick in its first two seasons.

THE 1990s

1999

Mark Barton killings (Atlanta)

William DaShawn Hamilton “Dennis Doe” murder (DeKalb County)

1998

Shy’Kemmia Pate disappearance (Unadilla, Dooly County)

Devonia Inman murder case (Adel, Cook County)

Terrell Peterson murder (Atlanta)

1997

Jerry Scott Heider / Daniels family murders (Santa Claus, Toombs County)

Alvin Ridley case (Virginia Ridley death) (Ringgold, Catoosa County)

1996

JonBenet Ramsey murder (Colorado, with Marietta connection)

Brian Bowling death (Rome, Floyd County)

Eric Rudolph/Olympic Park bombing (Atlanta)

Elia Banderas (Westin Peachtree) murder (Atlanta)

Jonathan Foundling’s death (Athens, Clarke County)

1993-98

“Mr. X” murders (Atlanta)

1992

Fred Tokars case (Marietta, Cobb County)

Christina Boyer case (Carrollton, Carroll County)

1991

Cynthia Prioleau (“Murder Kroger”) killing (Atlanta)

Geraldine DeLoach murder (Register, Bulloch County)

1990

Millbrook twins (Dannette and Jeanette) disappearance (Augusta)

Glynn County Jane Doe (Glynn County)

Rhonda Sue Coleman murder (Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County)

"Undisclosed" devoted a season to the Joey Watkins case in Rome, Ga.
"Undisclosed" devoted a season to the Joey Watkins case in Rome, Ga.

THE 1970s-1980s

1989

Monica & Michael Bennett disappearance (Brunswick, Glynn County)

1988

Louis Poetter/Anneewakee sexual abuse (Douglasville, Douglas County)

Jane Doe murder (Jenkins County)

Christmas Doe murder (Ware County)

1987

Gregory Montgomery murder (Atlanta)

Lita McClinton Sullivan murder (Atlanta)

Drs. Glenn and Rachel Sutton murders (Athens murders) (Athens, Clarke County)

1985

Willie “Pete” Williams wrongful conviction case (Fulton County)

Rising Daughter Baptist Church murders (Waverly, Camden County)

1983

Timothy Coggins murder (Griffin, Spalding County)

1979-1981

Wayne Williams / Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children (Atlanta)

1978-1996

Grady Babies abductions (Atlanta, Fulton County)

1978

James Edwin Wilkes Jr./Murphy Staffins crime spree (Atlanta, Fulton County)

1977-78

Carlton Gary (”The Stocking Strangler”) (Columbus, Muscogee County)

1977

T.K. Harty murder (Athens, Clarke County)

The “Lover’s Lane” murders (Atlanta)

1974

Paul John Knowles (”The Casanova Killer”) (Warner Robins, Houston County)

1972

Billy Sunday Birt (Dixie Mafia killer) (Barrow County)

Debbie Lynn Randall murder (Marietta)

1970

‘Chicken Man’ (Muhammad Ali ‘Fight Night’) heist (Atlanta)

Charles Oatman murder/Augusta riot (Augusta, Richmond County)

"Sworn," a spin-off from "Up and Vanished," has covered the Lake Oconee murders and the Ross Harris case.
"Sworn," a spin-off from "Up and Vanished," has covered the Lake Oconee murders and the Ross Harris case.

THE 1930s-1960s

1968

Barbara Mackle kidnapping (Decatur, DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties)

1967

Diane Shields murder (Atlanta)

1965

Mary Shotwell Little disappearance (Atlanta-Buckhead)

1962

A.C. Hall murder (Macon-Bibb County)

1958

James Brazier & Willie Countryman deaths (Terrell County)

1957

William & Hubert Bagby (“Roosting Man” and “The Ghost”) arrests (Bolton area, Atlanta)

1952

Roberta Elder (”Mrs. Bluebeard”) murders (Atlanta)

1948

Isaiah Nixon murder (Alston, Montgomery County)

1941

Antoinette Farnsworth Drew murder (Atlanta)

1936

Thomas Finch lynching (Atlanta)

1934

W.A. Scott murder(Atlanta)

PRE-1930

1921

Fred Thompson “Lakewood Cutting” murder (Atlanta)

1919

Carlisle Christy murder (Atlanta)

John Abbott murder (Atlanta)

1915

Mary Phagan murder/Leo Frank lynching (Atlanta/Marietta)

1912

Ellen Grice/Mae Crow assaults/Forsyth racial violence (Forsyth County)

1911

“Atlanta Ripper” killings (Atlanta)

1906

Atlanta Race Massacre (Atlanta)

1896

Thomas Delbridge death (Atlanta)

1879

Robert Alston murder (Atlanta)

DeFoors murders (Atlanta)


TELEVISION SHOWS

These cases are covered on the following television shows:

THE 2010s-present

Variety (Atlanta)

Variety (Fulton County)

Variety (DeKalb County)

Variety (Gwinnett County)

2021

Robert Aaron Long (spa shooting) murders (Atlanta and Cherokee County)

Rodney William Metzer case (ex-wife kidnapping) (Cherokee County)

2020

Ahmaud Arbery shooting (Brunswick, Glynn County)

2018

Gary Farris murder (Alpharetta, Cherokee County)

Mitchell Jones murder (Marietta, Cobb County)

Spencer Herron case (Marietta, Cobb County)

2017

George Young murder (Gwinnett County)

Jenna Van Gelderen disappearance (Atlanta, DeKalb County)

2016

Tex McIver case (Atlanta)

Jessica Boynton shooting (Griffin, Spalding County)

Camila Aguilar murder (Brookhaven)

Bridget Shiel murder (Atlanta)

Reggie Coicou/Quincy Wytche murders (Atlanta)

Randy Smith murder (Atlanta)

Jerome Blake / “Rap Studio” murder (Atlanta)

2014

Tiffany Jackson Pugh “DJ’s wife” murder (Atlanta)

Jeronta Brown/Briana Brooks murders (DeKalb and Fulton Counties)

Aeman Presley murders (Atlanta/Decatur, Fulton & DeKalb Counties)

2013

Danielle Marshall murder (Powder Springs, Cobb County)

Jerrick Jackson murder (Atlanta)

2012

Melvin Vernell III “Lil Phat” murder (Sandy Springs, Fulton County)

THE 2000s

2008

Elizabeth Bowie murder (Smyrna, Cobb County)

Meredith Emerson killing/Gary Michael Hilton (National Forest Serial Killer) (Dawson Forest, Dawson County)

2006

Carnell Walker (Morehouse student) murder (Atlanta)

2005

Black Mafia Family case (Atlanta)

Tara Grinstead murder (Ocilla, Irwin & Ben Hill counties)

Eric Clark murder (College Park)

2003

Josef Smith murder (Remnant Fellowship Church abuse case) (Mableton, Cobb County)

2002

Tamekia Taylor & Jennifer Clemmings murders (Lithonia & Stone Mountain, Dekalb County)

Falicia Blakely crime spree (Atlanta)

2000

Sidney Dorsey / Derwin Brown murder (DeKalb County)

Sparkle Rai murder (Union City, Fulton County)

THE 1990s

1997

Alvin Ridley case (Virginia Ridley death) (Ringgold, Catoosa County)

1996

JonBenet Ramsey murder (Colorado, with Marietta connection)

Lance Herndon murder (Roswell, Fulton County)

John Peek / Carol Marlin & Margaret Ginn murders (Marietta, Cobb County)

Judge Josephine Holmes Cook murder (Atlanta)

1994

Amanda Puckett murder (Marietta, Cobb County)

1992

Fred Tokars case (Marietta, Cobb County)

Christina Boyer case (Carrollton, Carroll County)

1990

Millbrook Twins disappearance (Augusta)

THE 1960s-1980s

1987

Lita McClinton Sullivan murder (Atlanta)

1986

Sharon Brady murder (Marietta, Cobb County)

1985

Rising Daughter Baptist Church murders (Waverly, Camden County)

1979-1981:

Wayne Williams / Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children (Atlanta)

1983

Timothy Coggins muder (Griffin, Spalding County)

1979

Mary Frances Stoner murder (Adairsville, Bartow County)

1970

‘Chicken Man’ (Muhammad Ali ‘Fight Night’) heist (Atlanta)

William “Junior” Pierce (Vidalia, Toombs County)

1968

Barbara Mackle kidnapping (Decatur, DeKalb & Gwinnett counties)

1960

Mary Burge murder (Macon, Bibb County)


FILMS

Theatrical-release films include:

Brian Nichols escape/murders (Atlanta)

Eric Rudolph/Olympic Park bombing (Atlanta)

Ross Harris (hot car death) murder case (Cobb County)

About the Author

Pete Corson is a Presentation Specialist for the Digital Storytellers team and works closely with the Enterprise and Investigative teams. He has worked at the AJC since 1998. He enjoys bringing the best of the paper's journalism to life on your digital devices and finding new ways to tell the stories that make Atlanta unique.

More Stories