Murray County School Administrator Arrested for Child Molestation
Featured Stories December 2, 2022
MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. – Rachelle Louise Terry, 43, a Murray County School Administrator, has been arrested on numerous charges including child molestation.
Terry has been booked in the Murray County Jail after The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked to look into Terry following some claims from earlier this year.
The GBI has released their official statement below:
Dr. Rachelle Louise Terry, age 43, of Chatsworth, GA, has been arrested and charged with child molestation and statutory rape, related to an investigation of Terry, an administrator in the Murray County School System, having a sexual relationship with a student.
Terry was charged with 10 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors during a Halloween party earlier this year. That Murray County District Attorney’s Office investigation revealed the sexual relationship and they requested the GBI to investigate on November 23, 2022. Terry was booked into the Murray County Jail.
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Calhoun Field Office at 706-624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Ralston calls for GBI investigation into Fulton County elections
News July 16, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga – Elected officials are taking aim and Fulton County and its elections director Richard Barron, following new details regarding the 2020 election.
Today, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge) released the letter he sent to Fulton Elections Director Richard Barron. In the letter, Ralston requests Barron ask the GBI to investigate November 2020 election. He cited the mounting allegations against Fulton County as his reasoning behind the need for an investigation.
Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston
“Recently, media reports have surfaced which call into question the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election. These reports have been accompanied by video and other evidence which is part of on-going litigation and requires thorough examination and explanation. Given the seriousness of this situation and the possible repercussions for our state and nation, it is time we have an independent investigation – once and for all – of the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election,” Ralston wrote.
Raffensperger calls for Barron’s firing
Throughout the week, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R-Ga) has issued several tweets, and last month, he held a press conference in front of headlines concerning Fulton’s lengthy history of election problems.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Most recently, a report of the double-counting of 200 absentee ballots came to light after the new voting law made it public.
“Fulton County’s continued failures have gone on long enough with no accountability. Rick Barron and Ralph Jones, Fulton’s registration chief, must be fired and removed from Fulton’s elections leadership immediately. Fulton’s voters and the people of Georgia deserve better,” one of Raffensperger’s tweets read.
Earlier this year, the Fulton County Elections Board voted to fire Barron, but the commissioners rejected the termination.
Another tweet stated, “Long before November, I had been working to get Fulton to clean up their decades of election mismanagement. Restoring confidence in our elections should be a bipartisan concern. Fulton County’s poor elections management is making that impossible.”
Raffensperger’s also gone on record urging Republicans to take “the lead on election regulation reform” and that the SOS assigned monitor found “significant management issues.”
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts (D – Fulton) described Raffensperger’s call to fire Barron and Jones as a “sell out to conspiracy theorists.”
“His ultimate goal is based on the provisions of Senate Bill 202, he would like to take over the elections in Fulton County, that is not going to happen, period,” Pitts told Fox 5 Atlanta.
Under the Election Integrity Act (SB 202), the Secretary of State’s Office does have the authority to take over a county’s elections process if numerous instances of problems are documented. The Department of Justice is currently suing Georgia over the bill on the grounds that it violates voter’s civil rights.
Read the entirety of Ralston’s call for an election investigation below:
Investigators seek information on body found
Police & Government, Press Release March 18, 2020
A body found on Monday has investigators with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office are seeking information. According to a press release from the sheriff’s department:
The body of a unidentified, white male was found at Carolton Petty Road and the Conasauga River Bridge. Investigators believe he was in his 20s. The area was investigated by the sheriff’s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the body was taken to hte GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy.
If anyone has any information about this incident or anything suspicious between the dates and times of Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16 at about 4 p.m., contact the Murray County Sheriff’s Office at 706-695-4592 ext. 339 or the GBI office, Region One at 706-624-1424.
For more Murray County news, click here.
GBI Seeks Public’s Assistance in 2011 Toccoa Murder Investigation
Featured Stories March 9, 2020
Toccoa, GA (March 5, 2020) – This month marks the nine year anniversary of the murder of
Robert Lee Simmons, Jr. The GBI is seeking the public’s assistance with any information about
Simmons’ last days and his murder. Simmons, 46, was found dead at his home at the Glendale
Apartments on Norman Drive on March 1, 2011 by a family member. The Toccoa Police
Department responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call. Simmons’ death was determined to
be a homicide.
This case has remained active for the past nine years and both the GBI and Toccoa Police
Department continue to work to solve this case. Recently, investigators have received new
promising leads in this investigation and are asking for help from those who knew Simmons.
Even the smallest detail may help police with this investigation.
Both law enforcement and Robert Simmons’ family and friends implore anyone with information
to contact the GBI or Toccoa Police Department. GBI Special Agent Shilo Crane is the case
agent and may be reached at 706-348-4866. Tips can also be made on the GBI Tipline at 800-
597-8477 or online submissions may be made on the GBI website: www.gbi.georgia.gov. The
Toccoa Police Department may be contacted at 706-282-3244.
Toddler hit and killed by pickup truck on Tuesday evening
News, Police & Government October 16, 2019
MURRAY COUNTY, GA – Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and Murray County Sheriff’s Office investigating the death of a two-year-old girl, who was hit and killed by a truck on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 15.
According to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the accident occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Old Dalton Ellijay Road at Diamond Way.
Two unattended two-year-old toddlers were walking onto the Northbound side of Old Dalton Ellijay Road as a Nissan pickup truck approached. The driver of the Nissan pick-up truck swerved to miss the children and hit a Dodge pickup head-on. The Nissan did strike the two-year-old girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The toddler was hit and killed by the Nissan truck in a residential area.
The driver and two passengers in the Nissan and driver of the Dodge were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the Nissan did not know the little girl and a thorough investigation into the accident is underway.
At this time, Fetch Your News doesn’t have any information about the second toddler.
Currently, GSP has no plans to bring charges against the drivers of the Nissan or Dodge trucks. All parties were from Murray County.
Fetch Your News will be updating this story as soon as more information becomes available.
Arrest of Former Murray County Sheriff’s Office Deputy
News May 18, 2019
Chatsworth, GA (May 17, 2019) – On Friday, May 17, 2019, the GBI arrested former Murray County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Levi Amos, 22, for Violation of Oath by Public Officer, Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors, and Computer Invasion of Privacy. Amos was accessing the Georgia Crime Information Center database in order to obtain personal information on females without authorization.
On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, the GBI was requested by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an investigation concerning Deputy Amos sending inappropriate messages and pictures of himself to juvenile females. After this information was received by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Amos was suspended and later resigned in lieu of termination.
This is an ongoing investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the GBI at 706-624-1424.
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body Found in Banks County.
News June 23, 2017
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body
Commerce, Georgia – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is seeking the public’s help in identifying human remains found near Interstate 85 in Banks County.
On Sunday, February 5, 2017, a skeleton was discovered in a wooded area near New Salem Methodist Church, at 2170 Highway 59, in Commerce. The body’s location was one mile south of I-85, Exit 154 for Toccoa/SR 63/Martin Bridge Road. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office requested GBI’s assistance with the investigation.
A forensic anthropological examination estimates the remains to be of an African American/Hispanic female, approximately 30-44 years of age, and approximately 4’9’ to 5’6” in height. The date of death is estimated to be up to 4 years prior to the time of discovery.
Found among the remains, was a metal ring and a butterfly necklace charm (see attached photographs). Blue, purple, and gray in color fabrics were also collected from the scene. Dental is available for comparison.
Anyone with information concerning the case is asked to call the GBI Athens office at 706-552-2309 or the Banks County Sheriff’s Office at 706-677-2248. Information may also be submitted on-line here.
East Ellijay Police Officer Arrested. Theft by Taking
Featured, Featured Stories February 15, 2018
The GBI arrested East Ellijay Police Office Michael McClure at approximately noon today February 14th 2018. A copy of Booking report and warrant below. FYN has requested a statement from the GBI and East Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan.
Below is a Press Release Statement from East Ellijay Chief of Police, Larry Callahan.
The GBI Crime Lab Receives Synthetic Opioid Carfentanil
Featured, Featured Stories, News September 1, 2016
Decatur, GA – Within the past week, the GBI Crime Lab’s drug identification unit received three cases from separate seizures of the synthetic opioid carfentanil. Carfentanil is a fentanyl analog used as a tranquilizer on large animals such as elephants.
It is purported to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and suspected of playing a role in hundreds of overdoses in the Midwest part of the country this past month. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and very toxic in small quantities. The cases that came in the lab were from the metro Atlanta area and were all suspected to be heroin. As a result of this drug coming into the GBI Crime Lab, lab scientists have enhanced their safety protocols to protect them from the potential dangers.
Some of the changes include wearing a face mask as well as testing any case suspected to contain heroin under a ventilated hood. Officer safety is of grave concern and all officers are strongly encouraged to take extreme caution when handling any suspected opioid.
Carfentanil is not intended for human use and the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan may be effective but only after multiple doses. The public is urged to be aware of the extreme dangers of handling and consuming carfentanil.
GBI Investigating Inmate Death
Featured September 1, 2016
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Corrections are currently investigating the death of Christopher Verner, 23, an inmate at Appling Integrated Treatment Facility in Baxley, Georgia. On Friday, August 26, Verner collapsed at the Appling ITF and was ultimately transferred to Savannah Memorial where he died August 27, 2016. The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the autopsy and the results are pending.
GBI Assists Murray County in Toddler Death Investigation
News January 13, 2016
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting Murray County officers with investigation of the death of a toddler.
The GBI have joined the investigation after the Murray County Sheriff’s Office responded to the death of a 2 year old. Authorities responded to an address off Leonard Bridge Road on Wednesday January 13th. The authorities requested assistance at that time. Deputies have reported no signs of foul play however the cause of death is unknown.
FYN will update as more information becomes available.
Child in Cage – 2 Arrested in Murray County
News August 7, 2015
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed a child was found locked in a cage in a Murray County home resulting in the arrest of two women.
A 911 call made at approximately 11am on Thursday, August 6th, led a Murray County Deputy to a home on Bahamas Drive in Chatsworth, Georgia. The call was a report alleging a child had been left alone. The deputy met with an unidentified woman accompanied by a female child. According to authorities the deputy gave an all clear once he established the child had adult supervision.
Later the same day, at approximately 3:15pm, another 911 call came in by the same person who provided additional information and requested police to investigate the home further. The deputy returned to the home and met with Wanda Redfern and saw the same child. The deputy gained consent to enter the home and upon further investigation the deputy found two cages inside a bedroom area. An 11-year-old boy was inside one cage and the other cage was empty. Additional Murray County deputies and GBI agents responded along with the Department of Family and Children Services.
The mother of the children, Stephanie Elizabeth Stone, was arrested and charged with Cruelty to Children in the 1st degree, False Imprisonment, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Wanda Sue Redfern was also arrested for Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree and False Imprisonment. Both women remain in custody and no bond has been set at this time.
The investigation is ongoing by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office and GBI. FYN will update when additional information becomes available.