Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

Decades later, the murder of a Polk County sheriff remains unsolved

Frank Lott Jr. stands by Polk County Sheriff Frank Lott’s gravestone in Cedartown, Ga. on August 18, 2017. Forty-five years after Polk County Sheriff Frank Lott was shot and killed as he investigated a reported burglary at the local high school, no one has been convicted. There was a suspect who went to trial but a jury acquitted him. Some say Lott’s successor, damaged the case by refusing to share information with other agencies investigating the shooting and by questioning but then releasing the only man to later be charged with the sheriff’s murder. (Rebecca Breyer)
Frank Lott Jr. stands by Polk County Sheriff Frank Lott’s gravestone in Cedartown, Ga. on August 18, 2017. Forty-five years after Polk County Sheriff Frank Lott was shot and killed as he investigated a reported burglary at the local high school, no one has been convicted. There was a suspect who went to trial but a jury acquitted him. Some say Lott’s successor, damaged the case by refusing to share information with other agencies investigating the shooting and by questioning but then releasing the only man to later be charged with the sheriff’s murder. (Rebecca Breyer)
By Rhonda Cook
Aug 23, 2017

The crime stunned this rural community in northwest Georgia: The Polk County sheriff gunned down responding to a burglary call.

More than four decades later, no one has ever been convicted in the killing of Frank Lott.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains why no one was ever punished in the case and how mistakes early on may have allowed the killer to walk free.

Read the full cold case story at myajc.com

WANT MORE COLD CASE STORIES? Sign up for our weekly crime and public safety newsletter. You’ll receive the latest in breaking crime news, trial coverage and unsolved cases.

About the Author

Rhonda Cook
More Stories

The Latest

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

Homicides down, police staffing up heading into Atlanta’s elections

Cobb mother gets 50 years in prison for toddler’s fentanyl death

Georgia judge resigns after Florida strip club arrest

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools

Waymo cars ignored stopped school buses in Atlanta. What happens now?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation. The autonomous vehicle company has issued a software recall.

Search for new MARTA chief hits snag

The search for a new leader for the regional transit authority is widely seen as one of the most important duties facing the Marta Board

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.