Please enter valid email address to continue. Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. That sentence is also concurrent to her life sentences. Discover your neighborhood's best match, anywhere. Jenelle Potter said she had trouble making friends when she lived in Mountain City, Tenn. Jenelle Potter, left, and Jamie Curd, right, started dating after Tracy Greenwell set them up. Further suggesting Mr. Fallin was more aware of his daughters activities than he insisted at the post-conviction hearing, Mr. Fallin filed a motion to quash a subpoena related to a criminal investigation of Jessica, perhaps ending any potential investigation into the Fallins involvement with the Potters finances. The business relationship imputed to Mr. Fallin by her daughters actions was adverse to Petitioner and therefore barred by the Rules of Professional Conduct. On Jan. 31, 2012, a friend of Payne and Hayworth found them dead by single gunshots to their faces. I did not do that," Barbara Potter told ABC News' "20/20. A Tennessee mother who was one of the three family members convicted in the so-called "Facebook Murders" case rejected her chance at a new trial and reached a deal with prosecutors that will send her to prison for 25 years. The statement also said Buddy Potter was innocent and that it was Curd who planned and carried out the murders. Mountain City, TN Crime & Safety City Home Local News The Tomahawk Court dismisses first-degree murder case against Butler man A criminal case against David Lee Albright, 71, of Butler, was dismissed by First Judicial District Court Judge Lisa Nidiffer Rice on Friday, February 3, 2023. / CBS News. Their relationship went south when Hayworth began dating Payne, whom she allegedly knew Jenelle was pining for. Jerry Lambe is a journalist at Law&Crime. Updated annually. We won't share it with anyone else. On July 13 and July 14, the Washington County Criminal Court revisited a crime that put a national focus on the small town of Mountain City. Emailus. Barbara got it to happen," agent Lott said. 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. Although Brooks is excited to have completed and published a book, hes still a prosecutor. Mountain City Murder (Hannah Scrabble Cozy Mysteries Book 3) Kindle Edition by Marty Donnellan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 39 ratings Book 2 of 2: Hannah Scrabble Cozy Mysteries Kindle $0.00 Read with Kindle Unlimited to also enjoy access to over 1 million more titles $3.99 to buy Paperback $9.99 5 New from $9.99 The year is 1978. Mountain City has a Livability Score of 56 /100, which is considered poor. His testimony has to be taken in light of the massive bias hed have to help his family, and it would have to be evaluated in light of the other evidence in the case, Brooks explained. 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. Washington County District Attorney's Office. Morefield reportedly told investigators that the shooting was in self-defense. Guilty verdicts were handed out for the Potters and Curd pleaded guilty. Barbara, you wanted to know if youd go to hell? Crime, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a It takes a cold-blooded person to shoot someone holding a baby, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Scott Lott told 20/20.. 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. He was tried in 2013, while his wife and daughter were tried together in 2015. Curd received a 25-year sentence on facilitation to second-degree murder charge. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. He now says what triggered his actions was evidence presented by Curd that his daughter was being bullied. 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. Mountain City, TN 37683 1,208 sq. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I didnt murder anyone, Jenelle, pictured in jail above, told 20/20., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.. A clear sky. a tennessee mother who was one of the three family members convicted in the so called "facebook murders" case rejected her chance at a new trial and reached a deal with prosecutors that will send her to prison for 25 years. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. They also discovered printed photos of the victim and her friends in the living room. feet 2 baths - beds #2 Old Us Highway 421 Zionville, NC 28698 1,344 sq. In her amended petition for post- conviction relief, Petitioner argues: A. Mountain City crime rates are 69% lower than the Tennessee average. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Please subscribe to keep reading. . According to Johnson City Press, Jenelle and Hayworth were one-time friends. It was higher than in 27.8% U.S. cities. Subscriber Verification(Must be Logged In Using Free Account). "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20.". Jenelle Potter lived with her parents Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, pictured together here. Potter is serving two concurrent life sentences for the murders of the couple who were found in their Mountain City, Tennessee, home with single gunshot wounds to their faces. ", Prosecutor Dennis Brooks told "20/20" that social media allowed Jenelle Potter to be someone that she wasn't. Wed have the right to appeal that, but if a judge sets forth sound legal reasoning, its hard to win an appeal, Brooks said. I think they would be called masterminds, said Lott. When they took him, they took no oxygen. But when an online feud erupted, two of her former friends were found murdered in their home while their baby survived. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. Please dont do this, Jenelles mom Barbara said. According to a release from the Mountain City Police Department, officers were called to the 300 block of Industrial Drive on November 14, 2020. 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. 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. While Marvin was being questioned, police executed a search warrant on the Potter house. I never envisioned writing a book about the case, said Brooks, who noted that he has aspired to write his entire life. Because Buddy did have some health issues.. It is available as an e-edition book at all major online book retailers, as well as in print. Jamie in the interview had said something to the effect of, Is the CIA here? That was a very strange question to me, Lott said. Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne were found shot dead in their home. Keep an eye out for more updates on the Facebook Murders. Listen to "39: Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders" on Spreaker. Crime risk data are updated annually. 8,376,755. Read more. The judge did not find any fault on the Brady issue, but he did grant relief on the first two issues. And the worst part of it their 8-month-old baby was found still lying in the arms of his dead mother. 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. Yes, Barbara responded. In this case, it is clear to this Court that Mr. Fallin operated under a conflict of interest based on his concurrent representation of both Petitioner and her husband. 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 She will eventually be coming up for parole. The couple was killed in their home on January 31, 2012. "I love my daughter. Brig. The 7-month-old boy survived unharmed. Chief Deputy Woodard said investigators found an arsenal of weapons around the home though none matched the murder weapon. My client is not guilty for having an overprotective father, Jenelles attorney Cameron Hyder told 20/20. She is not capable of directing anyone to commit murder. Mountain City crime rates are 58% lower than the national average Violent crimes in Mountain City are 47% lower than the national average In Mountain City you have a 1 in 102 chance of becoming a victim of crime Mountain City is safer than 62% of the cities in the United States Year over year crime in Mountain City has decreased by 32% The release states officers found Teddy Allen Street lying on the roadway with a gunshot wound to the neck.. Because we knew that they had trouble with [Hayworth and Payne], Woodard told 20/20.. A gruesome execution style double murder of a young couple shakes a small mountain community in Eastern Tennessee. A week after the crime, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of Marvin "Buddy" Potter (of no relation to the mayor) and his daughter's then-boyfriend, Jamie Lynn Curd. Payne, 36, and Hayworth, 23, were killed about three years ago in their Mountain City home by Marvin Potter and Jamie Curd. I never wanted them dead," Jenelle Potter, 34, told ABC News' "20/20" in an exclusive interview about the murders. Curd was sentenced to 25 years in prison and will be eligible for parole after serving 30 percent. I didnt grow up here, Potter, 34, told 20/20. People here do not like outsiders.. Create a password that only you will remember. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. A few months later, in October 2013, Marvin was found guilty for the murders and is currently serving two life sentences. I walked away from that (post-conviction) hearing myself having concerns about that representation.. Listen to Mountain City, TN - Unfriended Facebook Murders and seventy-seven more episodes by Every Town, free! Initially police were baffled by the crime, until they uncovered a web of lies and manipulation so bizarre it would catapult the small town into the national spotlight. Janelle kind of spurred it. "We have been using NeighborhoodScout data from Location Inc. for over 5 years. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Mr. Fallin was not granted power of attorney over the Potter family assets counsels daughter Jessica was. If he had testified while his case was on appeal, that would have upset that process because at his wife and daughters post-conviction hearing, he did testify. 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. bcampbell@johnsoncitypress.com, One of three Facebook murder convictions overturned, mother granted new trial. The 2019 Mountain City crime rate fell by 41% compared to 2018. Fallins argument at that trial was that Marvin Potter, convicted in 2013, had nothing to do with the murders. Marvin Potter said he shot Payne accidentally, but intentionally slit the mans throat because of the threats Potter believed Payne had made toward Jenelle. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Jenelle Potters convictions were upheld in a separate opinion issued by Acree. Potter lived most of her adult life on social media. Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Clear skies. already serving two consecutive life sentences, Update-mother-daughter-receive-concurrent-life-sentences-in-2012-mountain-city-double-murder-co-conspirator-gets-25-years-photos-video. "Barbara and Janelle share the responsibility. Blackwood told Curd there was no guarantee the parole board would agree to grant his release that quickly. She certainly could have. But Barbara, pictured above with Marvin, didnt accept her husbands supposed confession of guilt. 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. Because of what they were saying about my daughter.. Like her husband and daughter, Barbara was sentenced to serve life in prison. In a tiny town in Tennessee, a young couple are brutally shot, execution style in their home. Theyve threatened to take Jenelle, cut her head off.. Other US patent applications are currently pending. Violent If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Show Every Town, Ep Mountain City, TN - Unfriended Facebook Murders - Oct 8, 2021 (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The fact that Mr. Fallin failed to engage his clients in the required discussions regarding conflict of interest and waiver of the potential conflict does not, standing alone, entitle Petitioner to relief. 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. Schults reportedly told JCP that Barbara requested him to reach a deal with prosecutorsagainst his advicebecause she did not want to go through another trial. Data for all 32,900 zip codes in one easy-to-use Excel file Mountain City, Tn Housing Market Highlights ECONOMY She was thinking of that and of wanting to accept her fault in what actually occurred., [image via Johnson County Sheriffs Office], Have a tip we should know? Low around 35F. Now let us turn to take a look at how Mountain City does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. "He was watching these people that he said were harassing her on the computer and calling her. He testified in the trial that some of the photos Jenelle and her mother emailed back and forth were from the public portion of his Facebook page, but most of them were not him at all. "I emailed him through my email, and I said, you know, 'How'd you get my screenname, password?' "She may be on a fourth-grade level, but she has a Ph.D. in manipulation," Brooks, the prosecutor, said. Paynes stepfather, David Garland, sent copies of a letter addressed to the acting sheriff, Mike Reece, to The Tomahawk in July 2012. But when police took a look at the computer they seized from the Potters' home, they learned the emails from the CIA agent Chris were all coming from an account that belonged to Jenelle Potter, and a review of the IP address confirmed that. And I unfriended her.". Their infant son was still cradled in his dead mother's arms. Download Historical Data Save as Image. Barbara potter. From time to time, Curd would visit the Potter house to fix the family computer. You have permission to edit this article. Based on FBI crime data, Mountain City is not one of the safest communities in America. Jenelle was accused of catfishing, or creating a fake social media account to convince her family that Payne and Hayworth were dangerous. Petitioner also could have argued that if she was guilty of anything, she was guilty of lesser offenses. A Crime That SHOCKED The Nation - Mary Holmes - Thatcher, AZ. The family patriarch, Marvin Potter, is already serving two consecutive life sentences after being convicted in October 2013 of the murders. The Rules of Professional Conduct impute the actions of non-lawyers to their attorney employers. I wanted the harassment to stop," Potter said. NeighborhoodScout provides exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy. He was a sports writer at the Johnson City Press and a stringer for the Bristol Herald Courier and Maryville Daily Times. Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. I thought lets see where this goes. I rekindled my love of writing.. Barbara got it to happen.. For more information about the book, visit www.diversionbooks.com. Maybe somewhere along the way, hes had a change of heart, but, in my mind, if he wanted to help those women at their trial, hed have done it. Jenelles sister Christie Groover, whos been estranged from the family for a decade, said Jenelle struggled to make friends growing up. Create a password that only you will remember. Albright was initially arrested on Friday, August 14, 2020, and charged with first . Acrees ruling, filed Wednesday in Washington County, stated that Fallins representation of both Marvin and Barbara Potter negated Barbara Potter of a fair trial. She was paranoid about it.. 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. Hayworth died while holding her 7-month-old baby boy. Read more about Scout's Crime Data. Cause I wasnt born and raised here. There was a web of jealousy, allegations of threats from Hayworth and Payne toward Jenelle Potter, emails between them all and even an alleged bounty for Jenelles murder, JCP reported. For Jenelle Potter, she will be 86 years old when shes eligible for release. [emailprotected]. "We've had enough. Listen to 39: Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders, an episode of Southern Fried True Crime, easily on Podbay - the best podcast player on the web. Assistant District Attorney General Dennis Brooks. Because of health problems, including Type 1 diabetes, Potter spent most of her time living at home with her parents, who cared for her every day. The shocking murder left 36-year-old Billy Clay Payne and 23-year-old Billie Jean Hayworth dead. The evidence was presented to the Johnson County Grand Jury and Mr. Jimmy Gale Morefield was charged with Second Degree Murder, the release reads. After combing through them, it appeared there was some type of conspiracy here. An agent meticulously reconstructed the shredded papers found in Marvin Potter's truck, pictured here, which appeared to be thousands of emails sent to the Potter family. Hayworth died while holding her 7-month-old baby boy. The murders happened in Mountain City, but the case is being tried in Jonesborough because of the pre-trial publicity that surrounded the so-called Facebook murders.. I plead guilty, your honor, Barbara reportedly said. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. "I don't want anybody murdered. 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 is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. Buddy and Jenelles convictions were both upheld on appeal. 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I love my husband, but I would not sit here and lie for them," Barbara Potter said. But behind her parents backs, Jenelle and Curd would secretly spend time together. After Marvin Potter, who is known as "Buddy," was arrested for the murders, he also told police his daughter's life was being threatened. 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. Have a tip or story idea? I wanted [them] to quit. Eventually both sides deleted each other as friends on Facebook. Subscribe Now. Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders Southern Fried True Crime Podcast Episode 39 Description In a tiny town in Tennessee, a young couple are brutally shot, execution style in their home. All three Potters are serving two life sentences each for the murders. Potter is serving two concurrent life sentences for the murders of the couple who were found in their Mountain City, Tennessee, home with single gunshot wounds to their faces. 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. 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. The case was a tangled web of jealousy, allegations of threats from Hayworth and Payne toward Jenelle Potter, emails between them all and even an alleged bounty for Jenelles murder. 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! He had dogs. She did want to go in there and plead guilty, Schults told the paper. Courtesy Tate Davis Jenelle and Her Family Adjust to Life in Mountain City Defense attorney Scott Shults listens as attorney Grace Studer makes closing arguments in a post-conviction hearing for Barbara and Jenelle Potter in July 2021. No signup or install needed. Relative to Tennessee, Mountain City has a crime rate that is higher than 58% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes. The murders shocked the public conscious, leading cases to be moved out of the county because of pre-trial publicity, and were also the subject of a book penned Deputy District Attorney Dennis Brooks titled, Too Pretty to Live, the Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee.. Potter had a crush on Payne and wanted him and Hayworth dead after they moved in together and had a child, according to prosecutors. Jenelle said one of her Facebook friends, Billie Jean Hayworth, was the one behind the attacks because Hayworth was jealous of her looks. And when she would go out with her dad, he said they were watching them together, Barbara said. I unfriended them. I was a bad person. Authorities seized 51 items from the house, including their family computer. Jenelle Potter's defense attorney Cameron Hyder said, "Jenelle Potter operates on the level of an 8- or 9-year-old.. Curd is the only one charged who admitted any involvement in the killings, but told investigators and testified that he had no knowledge of it prior to the morning it happened and that it was Buddy Potter who killed the couple. Start your subscription for just $5 for 3 months The fourth defendant, Jamie Curd, described by prosecutors as Jenelles boyfriend, was also charged, but he worked out a plea agreement with the state in exchange for testifying against the Potter women. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee's Adjutant General, confirmed the identities of two Tennessee Army National Guard pilots killed Wednesday af. Attorney Scott Shults, right, talks to his client, Barbara Potter on Wednesday, July 14. Raw data sources: The letter also included records of others seeking court-ordered protection from Jenelle because of the alleged harassment stretching back four years, claiming the victims should have been protected better. Story of Mountain City Facebook murders reaches national audience in book, tv special. At that time, Reeces only statement was that he would not respond to the letter in question. I did Bill first and then I think Billie did me. Choose wisely! Police also honed in on Jenelle and Curds text messages with each other the morning of the murders. Updated: Nov 11, 2021 / 06:49 PM EST WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) - Barbara Potter, the mother in a family trio all convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 killing of a Mountain. The 60-year-old father is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for killing Billy Payne Jr. and his girlfriend, Billie Jean Hayworth. According to a summary from the publisher, when Payne and Hayworth began their romance, they unknowingly set in motion a diabolical plot that would end with them murdered in their own home, Hayworth holding their infant, who was not harmed. 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. Mr. Fallin asserted at the post-conviction hearing that there were no conflicting interests between Petitioner and her husband, but the testimony of the other witnesses and the evidence presented at the two trials paint a far different picture.