February 13, 1979Cedartown, GeorgiaRhonda Joan Tanner (8) is kidnapped, assaulted, and killed by her uncle On the afternoon of February 13, Tanner’s mother waited for her daughter to arrive home from school, though the child was not on the school bus. Her mother called the school to ask about Tanner’s whereabouts and was informed a…
Man executed at the age of 72, 36 years after the murder for which he was convicted
February 3, 2016Jackson, GeorgiaBrandon Astor Jones (72) is executed for a murder committed nearly 37 years before Around 1:45 a.m. on June 17, 1979, a police officer arrived at a convenience store managed by Roger Tackett (35), to let a stranded motorist use the pay phone. The officer knew the store closed at midnight and…
A family of six, five of whom are children, are found dead after a house fire
November 2, 1942Chatsworth, GeorgiaSix members of the Pulliam family are found dead in the burned wreckage of their home On the morning of November 2, neighbors noticed the Pulliam house in flames and immediately formed a bucket brigade. It was initially suspected the family had stayed the night with Mark Pulliam’s brother, whom they had…
Man shot, killed after a possibly racially motivated attack in which he was not a participant
October 9, 1915Crawfordville, GeorgiaCharles Rackely is shot and killed following a dispute in which he was not involved Before the shooting, two employees of the Winsley sawmill had gotten into a confrontation with a boy or young man named Evans. As Evans was Black while the employees were white, it was speculated the incident was…
Woman is attacked by husband with knife and axe
February 12, 1885 Monroe, Georgia William McGaughey fatally attacks his wife Mollie The attack was in part witnessed by Mollie’s teenaged daughter from a previous marriage. The daughter, Mattie, stated she heard a thump come from a closed room and peeked through a knothole in the wall to investigate. When this proved too difficult to…
