Augusta, GA

New unit to help solve Richmond County cold cases

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2023

Press Room

New unit to help solve Richmond County cold cases

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There is a new push to solve a Richmond County cold case from 2010.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nancy Cushman and Angela Brooks were found dead near Twiggs Street and Laney Walker Boulevard.

A bystander was walking in the area around 2 a.m. and found the two victims near the train tracks.

Richmond County deputies found a car that was associated with the pair, but the case went cold.

Now Governor Kemp is investing $5 million to fund a new cold case unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A new Georgia law allows families of homicide victims to ask law enforcement to look back into unsolved cases.

The bill could offer hope to families of more than 170 cold case victims.

“It’s about to be 23 years, and there is still nothing,” said Joy Lewis, sister of cold case victim.

It is 23 years of questions, sleepless nights, and no closure as to who took her brother’s life.

“Who are you to take a life when you didn’t give a life, you know, that was my only brother. My mom’s only son, my father’s only son, his two daughters. Only father, you know, and they didn’t get it today was wiped of them getting to know him,” said Lewis.

It went without a motive or a suspect.

“It went cold at the time. Richard Roundtree was the investigator on the case at the time, he was working exceptionally hard, you know, in regard to finding who the murderer was at the time,” she said.

According to documents from the sheriff’s office, this is the case for 171 other families in Richmond County.

“Many questions pose in my brain. Was the case worked, as it should? You know, is there something else we can do that can be done? And, you know, what can we do now, today,” said Lewis.

The sheriff’s office does have a cold case unit.

This year Governor Kemp signed into law the Coleman-Baker Act, a bill designed to help families of murder victims, like the Lewis family, get closure.

“I’m to the point, even if they have to go and dig up the remains, if there is any evidence that they can actually get from them from the grave, you know, I’m willing to exhaust all means necessary because I want to just kind of put this at ease,” said Lewis.

The bill requires law enforcement agencies to provide exact numbers of unsolved homicide cases.

Families of homicide victims can request law enforcement to review cold cases and apply new technology and resources to the case.

Lewis says it’s a sign.

“It’s hope. We just need the right people in place to accommodate the diagnostics and the logistics of that, that bill, and of course, the new technology,” she said.

She promised her parents when they died, she would get justice.

“I told my father, I said, you know, mark, my word. I said I want to find Skeeters killers,” said Lewis.

It goes into effect on July 1.

We plan on sitting down with GBI to hear more about the team they are forming for the cold case unit, where the money is going, and what type of technology they’ll be using.

Source link

Augusta, GA

‘We need help’: Ga. airport underfunding could hinder expansions

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

‘We need help’: Ga. airport underfunding could hinder expansions

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Municipal airports across South Georgia could see improvements paused or canceled because of a lack of funding from federal and state officials.

Regional Airports need $83.5 million per year for improvement projects, but Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Brunswick, and Columbus only receive $16 million from the FAA and $2.8 million from the state.

Airports outside of Atlanta are receiving the shorter end of the stick when it comes to federal and state funding. Airport officials say that they hope that with more grant funding and the expansion of a few projects, it will increase more revenue right here in the Good Life City.

“If we don’t improve our infrastructure and our facilities, we will continue to lose our business aviation to other states. Some of the other states are receiving anywhere from 30 to 80 million dollars worth of funds, where we’re getting around 19 to support 7 airports outside of Atlanta and that’s a challenge,” officials say.

In Albany, the airport has upcoming projects to bring bigger planes, more commercial flights, and Cargo airplanes to the city. But with the lack of funding, the completion of that project is at risk.

“We’re looking at a runway extension which will be a huge project over 100 million dollars and funding has not been identified for that project. So where would we get that money? Well, we need the Federal Administration and the State of Georgia to give us more support,” officials say.

While officials say the airport needs some improvements, passengers say they love the convenience of being able to travel right outside their backyard.

Source link

Augusta, GA

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park

Published

10 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s baseball and softball teams.

While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.

After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.

But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.

You’ve seen the construction and you can see the vision.

In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.

The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.

“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”

The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.

In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.

“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an...

The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.

The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”

“I’d like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”

Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.

The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.

It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.

Source link

Augusta, GA

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

Published

18 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.

The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.

Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.

“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.

The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.

Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.

Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.

Source link