The Real 'Fatal Attraction' Killer - Jennifer Reali - Colorado Springs, CO. Barbara Potter released a statement after her sentencing saying she hopes justice will one day prevail and her innocence be proven. Jenelle Potter said her father became more protective with her because of the alleged threats she was receiving. Potters mother Barbara Potter had a job with Hewlett-Packard, and her father Marvin Potter, known as Buddy, was a former marine who served in Vietnam. Mountain City has a Livability Score of 56 /100, which is considered poor. Curd took a plea deal of 25 years in prison. I already knew the story, he said. He said he couldnt use his real name, his real identity.. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The day after the womens verdict was announced, Brooks said he tried to unwind, but the facts of the case stayed on his mind. rsorrell@bristolnews.com | 276-645-2531 | Twitter: @RSorrellBHC |Facebook.com/robertsorrelltn, EDITORS NOTE: Mack Crowder changed his plea to withhold of adjudication and served a period of probation, which ended in April 2018. He told Barbara, I did it. That's as close to a confession as we got from him, said Lott. And we were trying to figure out who he was. In a tiny town in Tennessee, a young couple are brutally shot, execution style in their home. Defense attorneys did not present any evidence, but argued that concurrent sentencing was warranted in the case. Police had a major breakthrough in their investigation of the murders after interviewing Potter's boyfriend, Jamie Curd, who admitted to being involved in the murders and told police that Jenelle Potters father, Marvin Potter, shot Hayworth and Payne to protect his daughter from what he perceived as an imminent threat? The two were shot to death in their Mountain City home. At that point all you need to show is that conflict adversely affected your attorneys performance. In a mystery that involved a supposed CIA agent, cyber bullying and a small Tennessee town, read below to see what led to the coldblooded murders. While being questioned by detectives, Marvin said, Ever since all this crap started, Ive had my life threatened. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. She was feeding Barbaras delusions, so Barbara ignores the signs that something is amiss here., Jenelle and Her Mom Go on Trial for the Murders. While it seemed that Jenelles social life was finally blooming, she was being relentlessly bullied online with anonymous comments appearing on her Facebook page. Prosecutors believe Potter created a false online identity of a CIA agent named Chris, in a phenomenon known as "catfishing," to fool her parents and her boyfriend and to goad her father into killing Hayworth and Payne. "Criminal Confessions" Mountain City, TN (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb Janie Hayworth, older sister to Billie Jean Hayworth, and Beverly Garland, mother of Payne, both said the loss of their loved one greatly affected their families, and their lives would never be the same. That led to discord between the one-time friends that prosecutors said ultimately ended in Payne and Hayworths deaths and the Potters being convicted of murder. I was a bad person. Guilty verdicts were handed out for the Potters and Curd pleaded guilty. Burton girls; Twin Springs boys win 2nd straight region title, VHSL QUARTERFINALS: Floyd County (boys), Wise Central (girls), J.I. Barbara Potter, 69, of Mountain City, has been serving two life sentences alongside her daughter, Jenelle Potter, 38, in the Jan. 31, 2012, shooting deaths of Billy Payne, 36, and Billie Jean Hayworth, 23. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Low 33F. The couple defriended Jenelle Potter, prosecutors said, which may have been the ultimate action that led to the murder. Potter and Curd were arraigned Wednesday. 7,043,501 and 7,680,859. 39: Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders I did not do that, Barbara said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. That sentence is also concurrent to her life sentences. Best Places to Live in Mountain City, Tennessee State: Tennessee County: Johnson County Metro Area: No Metro Area City: Mountain City Zip Codes: 37683 Cost of Living: -26.8% lower New! Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Daughter, mother convicted in 'Facebook murders' case asking for new Mountain City, Tennessee (TN 37683) profile: population, maps, real One of three Facebook murder convictions overturned, mother granted new He pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit murder Tuesday prior to the Potter womens sentencing hearing. Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation - Crime in the U.S. MLA Citation: Other Cities in TN; City Name Population Rate; Ridgely: 1,662: 60.17: Bean Station: 3,094: 32.32: Savannah: 6,968: 28.70: From our analysis, we discovered that violent crime in Mountain City occurs at a rate higher than in most communities of all population sizes in America. Partly cloudy skies. He also pointed out that based on time served, she had already completed the 30-percent of her sentence required to be eligible for parole. Although Brooks is excited to have completed and published a book, hes still a prosecutor. The book is written in the first person perspective and tells what led to the brutal murder. Shults, who represented Barbara Potter in this part of her appeal, said his client was entitled to due process and independent counsel for her trial. February 3, 2023. Marvin Potter said he shot Payne accidentally, but intentionally slit the mans throat because of the threats Potter believed Payne had made toward Jenelle. First published on January 24, 2013 / 2:29 PM. The prosecutor noted that the case is layered and the subjects are compelling. A withh. Please enter valid email address to continue. Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. Paynes throat had also been slashed as he lay in bed, and Billie Jean had been cradling their baby in her arms when she died. Barbara got it to happen.. The two were shot to death in their Mountain City . Because we knew that they had trouble with [Hayworth and Payne], Woodard told 20/20.. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Marvin Potter (left) and Jamie Curd (right), are both accused of killing a couple who unfriended Potter's adult daughter on Facebook, Ben Renick case: World-renowned snake breeder murdered, The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh, Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying. Create a password that only you will remember. The infamous double-murder was dubbed the Facebook murders after authorities said that the killings were, in part, due to an online feud that was motivated by jealousy and harassment. Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood said the crime was the most bizarre thing hes seen in his career as as judge, but that concurrent sentences virtually guarantees the women will never be released. In the upcoming months, officials will decide whether the Potter women will receive a new trial, get a chance at an appeal, or be left to serve their sentences as planned. "Match Any Neighborhood" calculates the Match Level of one neighborhood to another using more than 200 characteristics of each neighborhood. Attorney Scott Shults, right, talks to his client, Barbara Potter on Wednesday, July 14. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. But Potter, who lived at home with her strict parents and spent most of her adult social life on social media, denies this. Police also honed in on Jenelle and Curds text messages with each other the morning of the murders. feet 2 baths - beds #2 Old Us Highway 421 Zionville, NC 28698 1,344 sq. The release states officers found Teddy Allen Street lying on the roadway with a gunshot wound to the neck.. There were some discussions that he would testify at his wifes trial, but ultimately he did not. In recounting the evidence against Barbara during Wednesdays plea hearing, Deputy DA Brooks reportedly described how investigators found hundreds of emails that showed how Jenelle catfished by pretending to be a CIA agent named Chris. "I don't want anybody murdered. Now, two of the three parties serving two consecutive life sentences for the 2012 murders of Bill Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth are asking for a new ruling. I never wanted them dead," Jenelle Potter, 34, told ABC News' "20/20" in an exclusive interview about the murders. The Potter spouses ultimately did not have the same defense; Mr. Potters defense at his trial was that he did not commit the crime, but someone else did. Hed have given the testimony he gave yesterday.. I've done everything. Crime risk data are updated annually. After being at the interrogation for nearly six hours, Curd told police Jenelles dad Marvin killed Hayworth and Payne. Washington County District Attorney's Office. The Rules of Professional Conduct impute the actions of non-lawyers to their attorney employers. Police: Man charged with second-degree murder after November shooting This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Mountain City. Potter had a crush on Payne and wanted him and Hayworth dead after they moved in together and had a child, according to prosecutors. Recommended for you - Johnson City Press No signup or install needed. . Importantly, when you compare Mountain City to other communities of similar population, then Mountain City crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average. Police later moved in and arrested Marvin in a pre-dawn raid in February 2012. "I didn't hate [Hayworth and Payne]. All three convictions will be appealed, according to their attorneys Randy Fallin and David Robbins for Buddy Potter, Randy Fallin and Tate Davis for Barbara Potter and Cameron Hyder for Jenelle Potter. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. Brooks claims Marvins testimony is full of red flags that contradict the evidence. Barbara Mae Potter, 64, and her daughter, Jenelle Leigh Potter, 35, of Mountain City, were tried in May on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree murder. Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies municipal, county, transit, park, port, university, tribal and more, assigned to localities, then built into NeighborhoodScouts proprietary predictive models to provide a comprehensive crime risk profile for every neighborhood and address-vicinity in the U.S. More about NeighborhoodScouts crime data methodology, By sending this Report you agree to NeighborhoodScout's, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Now six years after the Potter women were convicted and five years after their original petition for a new trial, Marvin is speaking out. Mountain City Murder (Hannah Scrabble Cozy Mysteries Book 3) "I think that we did it to each other. And if I have to forgive any of youns to stay out of hell, Ill see you there, Garland said. Mountain City, TN - AreaVibes Because you are guilty? Rice asked. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In one incident, police photographed a rock, pictured above, that was found in the Potters front yard with the names Billy Payne and Billie Jean written on it. By Becky Campbell He now says what triggered his actions was evidence presented by Curd that his daughter was being bullied. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. He had dogs. Listen to "39: Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders" on Spreaker. Case suggested by Linda MorganSuggested Reading: Too Pretty to Live: The Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee byJames Brooks, Written, hosted, produced by Erica KelleyResearched by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley HornerOriginal Music by Rob Harrison-Gamma Radio, https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/pottermarvinopn_3.pdf, https://www.amazon.com/Too-Pretty-Live-Catfishing-Tennessee-ebook/dp/B01994PAE8, https://abcnews.go.com/US/social-media-feud-led-murder-young-tennessee-couple/story?id=34346840, https://www.thetomahawk.com/local-news/prison-guard-fired-writing-letter-judge-support-potter-women/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_City,_Tennessee, http://www.city-data.com/city/Mountain-City-Tennessee.html, https://www.wjhl.com/local/tenn-supreme-court-censures-assistant-carter-co-district-attorney-over-facebook-murders-book/1308165452, https://media.wjhl.com/nxs-wjhltv-media-us-east-1/document_dev/2018/07/17/brooks-44880-carter-county-lawyer-censured_1531864697067_48862486_ver1.0.pdf, https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Local/2016/08/12/Court-of-Criminal-Appeals-grants-stay-of-appeal-for-Jenelle-Potter, Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders. "I emailed him through my email, and I said, you know, 'How'd you get my screenname, password?' The family patriarch, Marvin Potter, was already serving two consecutive life sentences after being convicted in October 2013 of the murders. A veteran of more than 100 jury trials, including 18 jury verdicts of first-degree murder, Brooks wrote when he was younger. Midway through her interview with "20/20," Jenelle Potter shut down in tears and walked out back to her cell. Methodology: "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20.". Jenelle was accused of catfishing, or creating a fake social media account to convince her family that Payne and Hayworth were dangerous. Best Places to Live | Compare cost of living, crime, cities, schools and more. Barbara Potters post-conviction attorney, Scott Shults, successfully argued that his clients trial attorney, Randy Fallin, was deficient in representing her because he also had represented Marvin Potter. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Theyve threatened to take Jenelle, cut her head off.. Jenelle spent time with Greenwell and her friends, including Greenwells brother Billy Payne. Later that week, authorities brought Curd in and asked him to take a polygraph test, which indicated he lied about knowing the identity of Payne and Hayworths killer. Prosecutor Brooks told the jury that Jenelle authored all the emails from Chris by pointing out the childish writing and misspellings matched her pattern of speech. However, a judge granted her a new trial after finding that her attorney, Randy Fallin, had a conflict of interest when he represented her in her 2015 trial because he had also represented Buddy Potter, who was convicted in 2013, and was continuing to represent him during the appeals process. Then, too, she wanted to make amends with what had happened. Jenelle Potter's mother, Barbara Potter, told "20/20" that Chris told her in emails that he was watching her family's every move and was monitoring what Payne and Hayworth were allegedly saying on social media about her daughter. Potter was once friendly with Payne in person, hanging out at barbecues and even going rappelling together. ", Prosecutor Dennis Brooks told "20/20" that social media allowed Jenelle Potter to be someone that she wasn't. feet - baths - beds #5 Nc 194 S Todd, NC 28684 - sq. Discover your neighborhood's best match, anywhere. Somebody hated her. All three Potters are serving two life sentences each for the murders. Like her husband and daughter, Barbara was sentenced to serve life in prison. Couple Murdered for 'Unfriending' Woman On Facebook - The Daily Beast No one wants to kill anyone but we will," Barbara Potter wrote in the email. How a Social Media Feud Led to the Murder of a Young - ABC News If you can show trial counsel had a conflict of interest, then you didnt have independent representation. Barbara and Jenelle Potter, who will be the subject of an ABC 20/20 segment later this year, continue to deny any involvement in the murders. She said she was the victim of anonymous cyberbullying, some of which she believes came from Hayworth. feet 1 baths 3 beds #3 Highway 133 Shady Valley, TN 37688 1,120 sq. Chief Deputy Woodard said investigators found an arsenal of weapons around the home though none matched the murder weapon. "Every one of them pointed straight back to Barbara and Janelle's home address," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agent Scott Lott told "20/20. Date(s) & Update Frequency: When I read this, I was devastated, Lindsay Thomas, a friend of Hayworth and Payne, told 20/20., [Jenelle] was always saying that somebody was mad at her. Facebook Murders revisited: I did that on purpose. 2023 Compare Cities Economy: Lakewood Park, FL vs Mountain City, TN Its just not in her.. Jenelle Potter lived with her parents Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, pictured together here. A Crime That SHOCKED The Nation - Mary Holmes - Thatcher, AZ. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. The Mountain City TN murder/homicide rate for 2015 was 0 per 100,000 population, a NAN% decline from 2014. Attorneys respond to 'guilty' plea, reduced sentence of - WJHL The judge did not find any fault on the Brady issue, but he did grant relief on the first two issues. Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. Maximum Access, Minimal Investment Pay As You Scout $29.99 per report Get Started Subscribe & Save FROM $39.99 per month See Pricing License Scout Data API Bulk Processing Flat File Explore Now Scout Before You Invest. In previous trials, the prosecutor presented several signs of possible knowledge of the plan, such as an article Barbara reportedly emailed to herself entitled Can God Forgive a Murder? 15 days before the murders took place. Authorities seized 51 items from the house, including their family computer. They also discovered printed photos of the victim and her friends in the living room. It is available as an e-edition book at all major online book retailers, as well as in print. Cost of living in Mountain City is 5% lower than the Tennessee average. Tennessee National Guard names soldiers in fatal helicopter crash. Low 33F. Potter guilty on two counts of First Degree Murder In August 2013, authorities arrested Jenelle and Barbara for the murders of Payne and Hayworth. Jenelle Potter during her murder trial in Jonesborough in 2020. Eventually both sides deleted each other as friends on Facebook. Somebody wanted to kill her, Greenwell said. He said he was down here to protect me, protect my parents. In addition to the conflict between Mr. Fallins duties to the Potters as counsel and the Fallins business interests in the Potter property and finances, the system of dual representation and dual payment in this case appears to have created in Mr. Fallins mind the impression that Marvin and Barbara were in this together. Accordingly, Mr. Fallin chose to view the couples legal fortunes as one and the same rather than recognizing the distinct prosecutorial theories involved in the spouses cases and pursuing the different defenses required to rebut the different theories of prosecution. I didnt murder anyone, Jenelle, pictured in jail above, told 20/20., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. In May 2015, three and a half years after the shootings, Jenelle and Barbara finally went on trial. When the Potter women went on trial in 2015, Marvin Potters case was still on appeal. January 24, 2013 / 2:29 PM Story of Mountain City Facebook murders reaches national audience in Agent Lott then arranged for Marvin to call his wife Barbara. MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WCYB) One of six people charged in the kidnapping and murder of a North Carolina man was found guilty in a Johnson County, Tennessee courtroom. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Acrees ruling, filed Wednesday in Washington County, stated that Fallins representation of both Marvin and Barbara Potter negated Barbara Potter of a fair trial. The couple was killed in their home on January 31, 2012. Said Jenelle Potter: "I didn't murder anyone.. In another part of the ruling, Acree wrote: In this case, despite Mr. Fallins belief that no conflict of interest prevented him from representing both Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, the Rules of Professional Conduct make clear that Mr. Fallin was required to explain the potential conflict to his clients and obtain informed consent in writing before Mr. Fallin could represent Barbara. So he decided to write it down. Crime risk indices are nationally comparable on a 1 100 scale, where 100 means safer than 100% of U.S. neighborhoods. Subscribe Now. And they interviewed him for hours, Barbara told 20/20. When his oxygen gets low, he says things that dont make sense or are incorrect., Jenelle and Her Family Are Investigated for the Murders. NewsBreak provides latest and breaking Mountain City, TN local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, local life and other items of interest in the community and nearby towns. Enhanced Cost of Living Calculator Now includes childcare, taxes, health, housing for home owners vs renters, insurance costs and more when you upgrade to premium. Morefield, 55, of Mountain City, has a bond set at $50,000. Regardless of how Mountain City does relative to all communities in America of all sizes, when NeighborhoodScout compared it to communities of similar population size, its crime rate per thousand residents stands out as higher than most. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. According to a release from the Mountain City Police Department, officers were called to the 300 block of Industrial Drive on November 14, 2020. feet 1 baths - beds #4 Ivy Branch Mountain Rd Creston, NC 28615 - sq. Crime rate in Mountain City, TN - City-Data Social media allowed Jenelle Potter to be someone that she wasnt She invented Chris. She was paranoid about it.. I didn't truly believe that Buddy Potter was capable of doing this, Lott said. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Brooks said he will have to talk with District Attorney Ken Baldwin to determine the states next step, but appealing the ruling could be an issue. It was higher than in 27.8% U.S. cities. Barbara Potter was also convicted of tampering with evidence, which stemmed from her tearing up photos of Hayworth and some of Hayworths friends while investigators were executing a search warrant at the Potter home. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. One day while picking up prescriptions, Jenelle befriended pharmacy clerk Tracy Greenwell. When she invented Chris, she could assume a different identity and be as hateful as she wanted to be.". The two men walked across a field in the dark, then Buddy Potter handed Curd a gun just before they went into the Payne home, but Curd said it was Buddy Potter who walked down the hallway and shot Payne, then Hayworth. He was watching these people that he said were harassing her on the computer and calling her. Yes, Barbara responded. Curd said Buddy picked him up and drove to a church parking lot near the Payne home.