In 2020, the GBI created a cold case unit with retired GBI investigators to look into unsolved murders like Blackmore's. April 10, 2022 COLUMBUS, Ga. — A convicted murderer serving a life sentence is now the suspect in the 1982 death of Fort Benning soldier who disappeared 40 years ago. A Chattahoochee County grand jury indicted Marcellus McCluster...

DNA evidence linked him to the death of Joshua Harmon. July 23, 2021 ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police have arrested a Woodstock man in the 1988 murder of an 8-year-old boy. James Michael Coates, 56, was taken into custody on July 21 and booked on multiple charges including murder after DNA evidence linked him to the death of Joshua Harmon. Joshua was ...

GBI said he stole more than $1,500 that was taken from a suspect in a traffic stop and stored in the evidence room Enter Article DATE HERE TWIGGS COUNTY, Ga. — A former Twiggs County Sheriff's Office major received a six-month sentence Tuesday after he admitted to stealing money from his department's evidence room. Twiggs County court records ...

The sheriff requested the GBI after internal audits and a search of the evidence room January 26, 2021 TWIGGS COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested a now-former employee of the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, and charged him with theft and violating his oath of office. According to a news release, 51-year-old Maj. William C...

Allegations against the chief included missing guns from ongoing investigations, missing badges and personnel allegations from officers regarding paid time. March 5, 2020 Allegations against the chief included missing guns from ongoing investigations, missing badges and personnel allegations from officers regarding paid time. That investigation con...

Enter Headline here March 11, 2020 LAFAYETTE, Ga. — State agents have arrested a woman accused of taking money from the police department during her time as LaFayette City Court clerk. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says on Tuesday, March 10, Jan Bridges was arrested for theft of fiduciary - theft over $500. Back in October 2019, LaFayette Pol...

None of the meth was checked into evidence February 28, 2020 A former Gwinnett County deputy, who was part of a federal drug task force, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for stealing drugs while on the job and trafficking it back onto the streets, authorities said. Antione Riggins, 41, of Loganville, pleaded guilty late last year to drug ...

The backlog of overall evidence that needs to be tested is over 44,000 February 15, 2020 ATLANTA — State officials say a backlog of hundreds of untested rape kits is accumulating at the GBI crime lab once again – and proposed budget cuts could make it worse. The situation spotlights a half-billion dollars in budget cuts proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp ...

s accused of stealing cocaine and methamphetamine before they could be entered as evidence in cases October 1, 2019 A former Gwinnett county sheriff's deputy and federal drug task force member has been indicted in federal court on charges that he used his position to steal some of the drugs that he was tasked with getting off the streets. Antione R...

Flint Circuit Drug Task Force commander Maj. Chad Rosborough has turned in his badge, gun, SUV and more after agents questioned Rosborough's handling of money seized by the task force June 24, 2019 HENRY COUNTY, Ga. - Channel 2 Action News has learned the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating allegations a drug task force commander misap...

"I think that the law enforcement, whoever is behind the missing evidence, should be held accountable April 11, 2019 HOMERVILLE, GA (WALB) - South Georgia residents are speaking out as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) continues to look into missing evidence from the Homerville Police Department's evidence room. The Homerville Police Depart...

Man is accused of taking drugs from the evidence room during his time as an officer April 10, 2019 WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A former Warner Robins Police officer faces theft and drug charges tied to his actions while he was employed by the department. An indictment returned Tuesday by the Houston County Grand Jury accuses Pratt D. Martin of theft by ta...

State Representative Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 282, which would require law enforcement agencies to store sexual assault evidence kits for 50 years March 1, 2019 ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Three years after state lawmakers approved a measure to test the state's "warehoused" rape kits, lawmakers have filed another...

Enter Headline here September 21, 2018 CONYERS — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested former Rockdale County Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Lang, 37, Thursday on multiple violations of theft by taking (firearms), a charge of theft of excess of $40,000 in US currency, and one count of violation of oath of office. Lang turned himself in at the Rock...

Daniel Lang is accused of stealing weapons from the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office evidence room September 11, 2018 The GBI is investigating a former Rockdale County deputy accused of stealing guns from the sheriff's office's evidence room and selling them for cash, Channel 2 Action News reported. "There was a tip received in reference to the han...

The sheriff realized there was evidence missing from the evidence room, and found numerous evidence bags in Mr. Barrett's office Enter Article DATE HERE Kathy Mudd•Thu, Aug 16, 2018 Michael Lee Barrett, 40, the former evidence custodian for the Jasper County Sheriff's Office pled guilty to 94 counts of corruption in court Tuesday. He was sente...

Former Tunnel Hill police officer, pleaded guilty today to stealing $37,000 out of the department's evidence room, July 12, 2018 Scott Reneau, a former Tunnel Hill police officer, pleaded guilty today to stealing $37,000 out of the department's evidence room, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI arrested Reneau in March 2016, a...

Allegations against the chief included missing guns from ongoing investigations, missing badges and personnel allegations from officers regarding paid time. Enter Article DATE HERE LITHONIA, Ga. -- The City of Lithonia has fired their police chief following a private investigation. Chief Roosevelt Smith was terminated earlier in the month at a...

Local attorneys said they're concerned after finding out the cyber attack on the city of Atlanta's network wiped out potentially critical police video evidence. June 6, 2018 Local attorneys said they're concerned after finding out the cyber attack on the city of Atlanta's network wiped out potentially critical police video evidence. Channel 2 Inves...

Kim Banks stole about $11,300 in forfeiture money from the Lilburn Police Department, according to an indictment handed down Wednesday. The alleged thefts happened before she resigned due to her earlier troubles. June 7, 2018 A former police officer in Gwinnett County who pleaded guilty three years ago after drug evidence went missing is facing new...

According to authorities, in at least one case three kilograms of cocaine were taken from the scene, but Riggins checked only one kilogram into evidence,e May 21, 2018 A Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy resigned last week amid an investigation that revealed two kilograms of cocaine never made it to the evidence room at the county's jail. Antoine Ri...

A day after we reported on guns and evidence taken from the Lithonia Police Department evidence room, investigators believe it was an inside job. May 24, 3028  LITHONIA, GA (CBS46) - A day after we reported on guns and evidence taken from the Lithonia Police Department evidence room, investigators believe it was an inside job. And state law en...

internal audit found a handful of guns and other police department property was taken from the evidence room at the Lithonia Police Department May 22, 2018 A small DeKalb County police department is dealing with allegations of serious internal theft. The Bulldog learned, an internal audit found a handful of guns and other police department property...

"As a result (of the DNA match) detectives from ACCPD have been actively investigating this case for the past six months with the assistance of the DeKalb County Probation Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI,". May 11, 2018 A DNA match led to an arrest Tuesday in a 16-year-old Athens murder case. Pamela Crisler, a 49-year-old mental...

Bayer allegedly removed opiates from the GPD. He would not say if these were taken from the department's evidence locker. April  A former Georgetown Police detective has been indicted on three charges that led to his resignation from the department in mid-March, GPD Assistant Chief Robert Swanigan said Thursday.Chris Bayer was arrested Thursda...

Alpharetta police have fired a detective after an internal affairs investigation determined he "grossly mishandled evidence" during a drug raid and then wasn't truthful during that investigation Enter Article DATE HERE NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Alpharetta police have fired a detective after an internal affairs investigation determined he "gro...

A city manager's decision to use the police evidence bay as his personal storage room may have helped put drugs and a gun back on the streets of Riverdale. Enter Article DATE HERE A city manager's decision to use the police evidence bay as his personal storage room may have helped put drugs and a gun back on the streets of Riverdale. And that'...

A veteran deputy on charges she stole at least  $16,000 from the evidence room has left his department with a "black eye." October  CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Murray County Sheriff Gary Langford said the arrest last week of a veteran deputy on charges she stole at least $16,000 from the evidence room has left his department with a "black eye....

Investigators reportedly seized a "garbage bag full of medication" from the deputy's residence October 10, 2017 Investigators reportedly seized a "garbage bag full of medication" from the deputy's residence. Muscogee County Sheriff John Darr introducing the haul from Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in 2014. Photo via YouTube A deputy with the Musco...

Miles says more than $10,000 worth of material was missing from the evidence room Enter Article DATE HERE MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is charging a deputy with the Murray County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) with stealing more than $10,000 worth of items from an evidence room. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles says agent...

Goettel is believed to have taken oxycodone and morphine, in solid and liquid form, from the evidence locker in the sheriff's office for his "own use" Aug 16, 2017 A jury has formally indicted a former Cherokee County Sheriff's deputy for allegedly stealing narcotics from the evidence room he was in charge of. Jeffrey Lee Goettel, 42, of Jasper was...

The drug is so potent, it can cause a fatal overdose just through skin absorption. May 4, 2017 ATLANTA - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says a drug is so dangerous, if someone touches it they could die. Numbers just released show a drug called furanyl fentanyl, which the Drug Enforcement Administration website calls a synthetic opioid, caused ...

GBI investigation that uncovered missing money and drug evidence Enter Article DATE HERE When Jasper County Sheriff Donnie Pope hired Michael Barrett about three years ago, the U.S. Navy veteran already had law enforcement experience. Until late last month, Barrett, 39, was an investigator and evidence custodian for Pope's office in Monticello...

"It's very upsetting to me when an officer crosses that line," March 6, 2017 TUCKER, Ga. – A DeKalb County Police officer is behind bars after being charged with several crimes related to an incident over the weekend. According to the DeKalb County Police Department, officer Ajamia Guyton has been charged with theft by taking, tampering with eviden...

Evidence from at least 14 sexual assault kits long stored at Atlanta hospitals for children — and in some cases forgotten — matched DNA samples collected from convicted criminals and stored in a national data base. November 29, 2016 Evidence from at least 14 sexual assault kits long stored at Atlanta hospitals for children — and in some cases forgo...

Nawolski pleaded guilty to charges of felony possession of hydrocodone, forgery, and theft by taking of oxycodone. November 16, 2016 VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - A person who controlled evidence at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Regional Crime Lab is charged with taking drugs from the facility. The discrepancy was discovered during an internal audit at the e...

The GBI reports receiving 541 kits in July and 1,994 kits in August, from both older and more recent cases. That's in addition to more than 3,000 active cases the crime lab was already processing, according to GBI August 1, 2016 DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS46) - The deadline has passed for untested sexual assault kits to be submitted to the Geo...

"It appears that these drugs were taken for personal use," he said Enter Article DATE HERE A veteran Cherokee County sheriff's deputy was arrested Saturday after he confessed to stealing drugs from the evidence room, authorities said. Jeffrey Goettel, 41, of Jasper, was charged with violation of oath of office, possession of a schedule II narc...

Among those indicted are two Aragon Police Officers accused last year of stealing handguns from the evidence room in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015. July 19, 2016 Polk County's Grand Jury convened to hear dozens of cases and decide whether to move them on to trial and came back with 56 true bills of indictment in the Tallapoosa circuit courts....

The statement says the GBI was called in to investigate in August 2015 after the sheriff's office "discovered irregularities in their evidence room June 11, 2016 HOMER, Ga. — A former prosecutor in northeast Georgia has been arrested on theft charges. The Athens Banner-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1XfO902 ) 32-year-old Samuel Elias Skelton is char...

The Macon Telegraph (Georgia)BYLINE: PHILLIP RAMATI; , GAMacon police have closed an eight-year-old rape cold case with the arrest of a Columbus, Ohio, man who has been charged with raping a 13-year-old ...

The Athens Banner-Herald, OnlineAthens, onlineathens.comBYLINE: ERIN FRANCE - to ArticleMadison County, GAELBERTON - A former Madison County Sheriff's Office investigator pleaded guilty to tak...

BYLINE: Chuck Poullard, Fulton County Crime ExaminerLink to ArticleChattahoochee Hills, GACheif resigns under GBI Investigation - Photo: Fox 5 AtlantaThe Police Chief of Chattahoochee Damon Jones resigned Wednesday morning ef...

The Augusta Chronicle, chronicle.augusta.comBYLINE: Associated PressMacon, GAMACON, Ga. — Records show that more than $1,500 has disappeared from an evidence safe in the Macon Police Department’s crime lab.The Telegraph repor...

Gwinnett Daily Post, gwinnettdailypost.comBYLINE: Associated PressTattnall County, GASTATESBORO — Officials in the U.S. Attorney's office say a former Tattnall County sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to nine years in priso...

The Augusta Chronicle, chronicle.augusta.comBYLINE: Meg Mirshak, Staff WriterSardis, GABurkeA former Sardis, Ga., policeman fatally shot early Monday after apparently breaking into a police station evidence room was identifie...

Ledger-Enquirer, ledger-enquirer.comBYLINE: JIM MUSTIANLink to ArticleFort Benning, GAA former evidence custodian with the military police was sentenced last week to six months in federal prison for stealing about $1,300 that...

The Telegraph, macon.comBYLINE: JIM GAINES — to ArticleMacon, GAVague records, easy access drew auditor’s warningA review of security at the Police Department’s evidence room found there was no way to te...

The Daily Tribune News, daily-tribune.comBYLINE: Jason LowreyLink to ArticleKingston, GAKingston Interim Police Chief Clay Patterson has made numerous strides in reorganizing the Kingston police department in an effort to pre...

Ledger-Enquirer, ledger-enquirer.comBYLINE: ALAN RIQUELMY — to ArticleFort Benning, GAA military police evidence custodian accused of stealing $1,300 in cash from his job pleaded guilty Wedne...