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

Superior Court Judge Robert “Bert” Guy Jr. resigned Thursday after last week's DUI arrest at a Jacksonville, Florida, strip club. (AJC file)

Credit: Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Georgia judge resigns after Florida strip club arrest

Judge resigns as council president after Florida strip club arrest

Georgia judge charged with DUI after parking lot incident at Jacksonville strip club

Featured

Thousands of "No Kings" protesters marched down Courtland Street from the Atlanta Civic Center to Liberty Plaza on Saturday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: Abbey Cutrer

‘No Kings’ protest in Atlanta concludes after march to Capitol

As the march took off toward Liberty Plaza around 1 p.m., officers on motorcycles began blocking traffic along Ralph McGill Boulevard and Courtland Street.

2h ago
OPINION

Herschel Walker and Bill White bid Buckhead goodbye

The battle for Buckhead came full circle as Democrats said goodbye to President Trump’s newest ambassadors.

Delta fans line up to buy vintage airline merch at this monthly event

Delta is the only airline to hold a regular sale like this. People travel from all over to attend the "Surplus Sale" every month.