[email protected], One of three Facebook murder convictions overturned, mother granted new trial. — -- Jenelle Potter was a sheltered young woman. 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. I unfriended them. The 262-page book was written after the final verdicts were read in the case in Johnson County, Tennessee. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. . 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. 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. He never testified. Potter had a crush on Payne and wanted him and Hayworth dead after they moved in together and had a child, according to prosecutors. Tennessee National Guard names soldiers in fatal helicopter crash. Jenelle Potter said her father became more protective with her because of the alleged threats she was receiving. 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. Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. On Jan. 31, 2012, a friend found Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne dead by single gunshots to their faces. Raw data sources: 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. Follow Becky Campbell @CampbellinCourt | Like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BeckyCampbellJCPress. Their infant son was still cradled in his dead mother's arms. Considering this evidence, the Court concludes Mr. Fallin operated under a conflict of interest in representing both Barbara and Marvin Potter in this case.. Choose wisely! I think they would be called masterminds, said Lott. He now says what triggered his actions was evidence presented by Curd that his daughter was being bullied. ", "[My mom and Chris] would write emails all the time back and forth, and she would tell me about him, she added. Jenelle said one of her Facebook friends, Billie Jean Hayworth, was the one behind the attacks because Hayworth was jealous of her looks. I plead guilty, your honor, Barbara reportedly said. — -- A Tennessee woman in prison for the murders of a young couple with whom she had been feuding online said she didn't want them to die. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Brooks will officially release Too Pretty to Live: The Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee on Tuesday by Diversion Publishing. Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. Were guaranteed that in our Constitution, Shults said. Potter was found guilty in May of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the 2012 shooting deaths of Billie Jean Hayworth, 23, and Billy Payne, 36. I've done everything. But a feud on social media erupted and, eventually, they deleted each other as friends on Facebook. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Robert Littleton was. Thats apparently where Curd and Buddy Potter came into the picture, with the Potter patriarch becoming convinced that Payne and Hayworth were a threat to his daughters safety. He told Barbara, I did it. That's as close to a confession as we got from him, said Lott. I was horrible. She didnt have a job or drive a car. In one of them, Barbara Potter was communicating with Chris and sounded like she wanted Payne and Hayworth dead. So he decided to write it down. Burton (girls) triumph in triple-header at UVa-Wise, VHSL HOOPS: Eight state quarterfinals on tap tonight for local squads, Five new businesses set to come to The Pinnacle, Farmville native caught with 42 lbs of cocaine, $862K in drug money gets 17 years, VHSL HOOPS: Parker Bandy's emergence key for Honaker Tigers, In Tennessee, a Medicaid mix-up might land you on a most wanted list, Recent cases prompt authorities to warn parents of social media's risks, Alaskas Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Dogs, mushers prep for Iditarod as PETA accuses racers of animal abuse. 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. feet - baths - beds #6 Osborne Road Lansing, NC 28643 The prosecutor noted that the case is layered and the subjects are compelling. 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. The two became an item, with Jenelle hiding her relationship from her strict parents. And, finally, they just pushed him to his limit where he couldn't take it anymore.. Only a few . 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. 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. The states evidence hinged on hundreds of emails and Facebook posts and messages sent between Jenelle, her mother, Curd and a mystery man named Chris who was supposedly a CIA agent who wanted to kill Payne and Hayworth but couldnt, so he urged the Potter women to find someone else to do it. After Marvin Potter, who is known as "Buddy," was arrested for the murders, he also told police his daughter's life was being threatened. The Rules of Professional Conduct impute the actions of non-lawyers to their attorney employers. He said he was down here to protect me, protect my parents. Mountain City, TN 37683 1,208 sq. That sentence is also concurrent to her life sentences. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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. Hayworth was holding their young son, but he was not injured. Mountain City, TN - Unfriended Facebook Murders From Every Town 0 0 29 minutes Description You've got a Facebook friend request - or conversely, your friend request has been accepted - and the thrill of having a new virtual friend that may open beautiful possibilities is undeniable. Rice asked Barbara to confirm that her current attorney, Scott Schults, had performed his job to the best of his abilities, which she did. Posing as Chris, Jenelle reportedly convinced Barbara that the CIA had sent an agent to Mountain City to protect Jenelle from Hayworth and Payne. Blackwood told Curd there was no guarantee the parole board would agree to grant his release that quickly. This equates to a rate of 3 per one thousand inhabitants. I did Bill first and then I think Billie did me. Curd said as soon as he realized what was happening and saw the bodies, he ran out of the house and back to the truck. A withh. Buddy and Jenelles convictions were both upheld on appeal. Detectives had Curd call Marvin to get a confession on tape. Whats happening this weekend around the Tri-Cities? I think that we did it to each other. "I did Bill first and then I think Billie did me. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Mountain City is 1 in 76. Jenelle Potter's defense attorney Cameron Hyder said, "Jenelle Potter operates on the level of an 8- or 9-year-old.. Like her husband and daughter, Barbara was sentenced to serve life in prison. Download Historical Data Save as Image. She did want to go in there and plead guilty, Schults told the paper. For more information about the book, visit www.diversionbooks.com. At that point all you need to show is that conflict adversely affected your attorneys performance. A life sentence in Tennessee requires a inmate serve 51 years before being eligible for parole. The family patriarch, Marvin Potter, is already serving two consecutive life sentences after being convicted in October 2013 of the murders. A Johnson County man pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder in a brutal 2012 double murder Tuesday, and the mother and daughter convicted of the crimes will serve their two life. After seven days of testimony, the jury found both Jenelle and Barbara guilty of first degree murder, and they were both sentenced to life in prison in July. It is available as an e-edition book at all major online book retailers, as well as in print. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Marvin Potter said he shot Payne accidentally, but intentionally slit the mans throat because of the threats Potter believed Payne had made toward Jenelle. Note: Because the rates of crime are so low in America, we use "per . Its just not in her.. feet 1 baths - beds #4 Ivy Branch Mountain Rd Creston, NC 28615 - sq. 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. Unfortunately in today's society, despite the fact that the officer is guilty of a crime under Title 18 USC 242, depriving a citizen of his rights "under color of law", it's unlikely that anything will happen to officer McCloud, who will remain free to intimidate citizens of Johnson County,TN and abuse his authority as he sees fit. Morefield reportedly told investigators that the shooting was in self-defense. They kept referring to a guy Chris thats supposedly a CIA operative or something, special agent Lott said. Crime, Popular Communities Near Mountain City TN. Start your subscription for just $5 for 3 months Subscribe. The Real 'Fatal Attraction' Killer - Jennifer Reali - Colorado Springs, CO. "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20. Because you are guilty? Rice asked. Armed with evidence that he believed proved the entire family was involved, prosecutors also charged Barbara Potter and Jenelle Potter in the killings. Burton girls; Twin Springs boys win 2nd straight region title, VHSL QUARTERFINALS: Floyd County (boys), Wise Central (girls), J.I. January 24, 2013 / 2:29 PM 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. And if I have to forgive any of youns to stay out of hell, Ill see you there, Garland said. 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. The 2019 Mountain City crime rate fell by 41% compared to 2018. I unfriended them. Yes, Barbara responded. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Data for all 32,900 zip codes in one easy-to-use Excel file Mountain City, Tn Housing Market Highlights ECONOMY 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. Courtesy Tate Davis Jenelle and Her Family Adjust to Life in Mountain City 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. Based on FBI crime data, Mountain City is not one of the safest communities in America. Have a tip or story idea? Jenelle Potter lived with her parents Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, pictured together here. 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. 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. High 57F. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. Start your subscription for just $5 for 3 months February 3, 2023. 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. Then, too, she wanted to make amends with what had happened. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20.". You have to have hard, concrete facts in court, he added. 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. When they impounded Marvin Potter's truck, police also found several plastic bags of shredded emails that an agent put back together. Agent Lott said, "Barbara would take this information and show it to Buddy: 'Buddy, look, look what they're trying to do to Jenelle.' 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. Street was pronounced dead at the scene, police report. But Jenelle said there were real threats of violence against her. Chief Deputy Woodard said investigators found an arsenal of weapons around the home though none matched the murder weapon. Payne, 36, and Hayworth, 23, were killed about three years ago in their Mountain City home by Marvin Potter and Jamie Curd. She was paranoid about it.. Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne were found shot dead in their home. If you can show the attorney had a conflict of interest, then prejudice is presumed. 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. This conflict, Petitioner asserts, denied her a fair trial and also constituted the ineffective assistance of counsel; B. Mr. Fallin rendered ineffective assistance of counsel at trial based on counsels other actions at trial and on appeal; C. The State withheld exculpatory evidence, in violation of its obligations under Brady v. Maryland, thus denying Petitioner due process and a fair trial.. Potter and Curd were arraigned Wednesday. And I unfriended her.". 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. Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. A Johnson County man pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder in a 2012 brutal double murder Tuesday and mother and daughter convicted in the crime will serve their two life sentences concurrently, a judge ruled Tuesday, giving the younger at least some chance of being paroled. Greenwell introduced Jenelle to her cousin Jamie Curd, who is handy with computers. When she invented Chris, she could assume a different identity and be as hateful as she wanted to be.". feet - baths - beds #5 Nc 194 S Todd, NC 28684 - sq. I only have that book because of someone elses tragedy, Brooks said. Jenelle Potter had a love interest in Payne and apparently wasnt happy when he began dating Hayworth. Low 33F. Curd's initial bond was raised to $1.5 million while Potter remains jailed on his initial $200,000 bond. Chris promised that he would have their back if they acted to protect Jenelle. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. To have that opportunity was important to her. And when she would go out with her dad, he said they were watching them together, Barbara said. Jenelle Potter lived with her parents Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, pictured together here. 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. She certainly could have. Sinkhole opens up in Mall at Johnson City parking, Greeneville man describes moment US shot down balloon, From the Archives: Carter County, Roan Mountain floods, Join News Channel 11s 70th celebration in Elizabethton, Continents largest salamanders native to region, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "He was watching these people that he said were harassing her on the computer and calling her. With no evidence or DNA left at the crime scene, police rely on the rumor mill and their instincts to try and identify suspects. Curd said Buddy picked him up and drove to a church parking lot near the Payne home. The couple was killed in their home on January 31, 2012. Director Adam Kassen Stars Marken Greenwood Danny McFarland Diana Caban Velez When they took him, they took no oxygen. But Potter, who lived at home with her strict parents and spent most of her adult social life on social media, denies this. Our nationally-comparable school ratings are covered under US Patent No. My wife has been threatened. Please dont do this, Jenelles mom Barbara said. The couple defriended Jenelle Potter, prosecutors said, which may have been the ultimate action that led to the murder. Violent 2021. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Billie Jean Hayworth was dating Billy Payne, and the couple lived together with their 7-month-old baby boy. Crime, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a The release states officers found Teddy Allen Street lying on the roadway with a gunshot wound to the neck.. The jury reached a verdict of guilty on Friday, October 11, 2013 in the trial of Mavin Enoch Buddy Potter, Jr. who was charged with two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of Mountain City couple Bill Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth. He also said he never communicated by email with the women and hadnt seen Jenelle since high school. 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? Fallins argument at that trial was that Marvin Potter, convicted in 2013, had nothing to do with the murders. They also discovered printed photos of the victim and her friends in the living room. The two were shot to death in their Mountain City . "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. His wife told 20/20 he later worked with the CIA. You have permission to edit this article. 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. 8,376,755. If you can show trial counsel had a conflict of interest, then you didnt have independent representation. No signup or install needed. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Nothing ever showed up in my sent box," Jenelle Potter said. Check back later for full story on the hearing. Barbara got it to happen.. But when an online feud erupted, two of her former friends were found murdered in their home while their baby survived. The shocking murder left 36-year-old Billy Clay Payne and 23-year-old Billie Jean Hayworth dead. 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. Low around 35F. My dad even tried to meet him places, try to talk to him.. 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.. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. 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. Curd took a plea deal of 25 years in prison. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He had dogs. Curd received a 25-year sentence on facilitation to second-degree murder charge. 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. Marvin Potter and Jamie Lynn Curd. Methodology: 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. They also, in the same breath, would say how different she was, and then [she] became unable to make friends normally, Groover told 20/20.Social media became Jenelles life support, though she said her parents monitored her Facebook page. 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. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. At one point, Barbara ripped the photos that were found in what seemed to be an attempt to hide them from police. According to Mountain City PD, the suspect, identified as Jimmy Gale Morefield, waited for officers to arrive at the scene of the shooting. Assistant District Attorney General Dennis Brooks. Barbara, you wanted to know if youd go to hell? If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. They unfriended me, Jenelle said. Emailus. He testified at Barbara and Jenelles trial that Buddy Potter asked him for a favor, then cashed in on it the morning of the murders. 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. / CBS News. The Potter women were not present when the couple was killed, but they were convicted under a law of criminal responsibility, meaning their actions led to the murders. 18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. He survived unharmed, though he was found covered in blood. I thought lets see where this goes. I rekindled my love of writing.. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Mountain City real estate prices are 10% lower than the Tennessee average. The chance that a person will become a victim of a violent crime in Mountain City; such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder; is 1 in 306.