"I emailed him through my email, and I said, you know, 'How'd you get my screenname, password?' Potter reportedly agreed. [emailprotected]. MOUNTAIN CITY Agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that took place in Johnson County just after 7 p.m.. The case was dubbed the Facebook murders because Jenelle Potter was unfriended by Payne and Hayworth on the social media site. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We felt sorry for Jenelle because she was sheltered and sick and stuff, Greenwell told 20/20.. But Potter, who lived at home with her strict parents and spent most of her adult social life on social media, denies this. Barbara got it to happen," agent Lott said. US Highway 421 connects Mountain City to Bristol, Virginia in the northwest direction and to Boone, North Carolina in the southeast. Mountain City crime rates are 69% lower than the Tennessee average. There were some discussions that he would testify at his wifes trial, but ultimately he did not. The crime rate in Mountain City is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 13 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. 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. / CBS News. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The murder occurred after months of allegations from Potter's. Discover your neighborhood's best match, anywhere. Street was pronounced dead at the scene, police report. The CIA agent warned the parents that surveillance of Payne and Hayworth revealed that the two of them were planning on harming Jenelle, that it was imminent, and that something needed to be done. 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. Were guaranteed that in our Constitution, Shults said. 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. 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. — -- 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. 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. "I love my daughter. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Jenelle Potter, pictured above, said she had trouble making friends when she moved to Mountain City, Tennessee, in 2005. Fallins argument at that trial was that Marvin Potter, convicted in 2013, had nothing to do with the murders. 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. Clear skies. Only a few . A life sentence in Tennessee requires a inmate serve 51 years before being eligible for parole. While Marvin was being questioned, police executed a search warrant on the Potter house. Violent Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents), Property Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents). The 7-month-old boy survived unharmed. They also discovered printed photos of the victim and her friends in the living room. There was controversy around how the Johnson County Sheriffs Office handled the murder case during the original investigation. When she invented Chris, she could assume a different identity and be as hateful as she wanted to be.". I thought lets see where this goes. I rekindled my love of writing.. Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. Raw data sources: Curd received a 25-year sentence on facilitation to second-degree murder charge. 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. His letter accused Reece of damaging the prosecutions case with his public comments. The two were shot to death in their Mountain City . The feud ended with Payne and Hayworth unfriending Jenelle on the social media site, according to the report. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. Burton girls; Twin Springs boys win 2nd straight region title, VHSL QUARTERFINALS: Floyd County (boys), Wise Central (girls), J.I. Morefield reportedly told investigators that the shooting was in self-defense. Considering this evidence, the Court concludes Mr. Fallin operated under a conflict of interest in representing both Barbara and Marvin Potter in this case.. For Jenelle Potter, she will be 86 years old when shes eligible for release. Listen to "39: Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders" on Spreaker. 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. The judge did not find any fault on the Brady issue, but he did grant relief on the first two issues. Read more. I walked away from that (post-conviction) hearing myself having concerns about that representation.. She was paranoid about it.. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Crime risk indices are nationally comparable on a 1 100 scale, where 100 means safer than 100% of U.S. neighborhoods. In May 2015, three and a half years after the shootings, Jenelle and Barbara finally went on trial. He said he was down here to protect me, protect my parents. You have permission to edit this article. I did that on purpose, Marvin testified about slitting Paynes throat in his confession at the post-conviction hearing. Cost of living in Mountain City is 5% lower than the Tennessee average. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20. Jenelle Potters convictions were upheld in a separate opinion issued by Acree. At that time, Reeces only statement was that he would not respond to the letter in question. Curd said Buddy picked him up and drove to a church parking lot near the Payne home. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. Allegedly, threats and bullying on Facebook and the Mountain City, TN Topix forum added fuel to the fire, which eventually led to an early morning visit to the house on James Davis Lane by Marvin Potter and Jenelles boyfriend, Jamie Curd. In the last 5 years Mountain City has seen decline of violent crime and decreasing property crime. 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. Based on FBI crime data, Mountain City is not one of the safest communities in America. — -- Jenelle Potter was a sheltered young woman. It also gives the public a better understanding of how the criminal justice system works, Brooks said. January 24, 2013 / 2:29 PM 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. Marvin Buddy Potter husband of Barbara and father to Jenelle was also convicted of the murders. Attorney Scott Shults, right, talks to his client, Barbara Potter on Wednesday, July 14. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2021. The family patriarch, Marvin Potter, is already serving two consecutive life sentences after being convicted in October 2013 of the murders. "I did Bill first and then I think Billie did me. 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. "We've had enough. Washington County District Attorney's Office. Marvin Potter is accused in the shooting deaths of a couple who removed his adult daughter as a friend on the social network. Crime, Popular Communities Near Mountain City TN. "He said he couldn't use his real name, his real identity," Barbara Potter said. 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. Curd agreed to a plea deal of 25 years in prison. I plead guilty, your honor, Barbara reportedly said. 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. Barbara Potter released a statement after her sentencing saying she hopes justice will one day prevail and her innocence be proven. Keep an eye out for more updates on the Facebook Murders. You have to have hard, concrete facts in court, he added. 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. His wife told 20/20 he later worked with the CIA. And I unfriended her.". February 3, 2023. And I unfriended her., Jenelles Former Friends Are Found Murdered. He was a sports writer at the Johnson City Press and a stringer for the Bristol Herald Courier and Maryville Daily Times. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. appearing in washington county court on wednesday, barbara potter, 69, pleaded guilty to two counts of . Because you are guilty? Rice asked. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. I dont want anybody murdered. [photo credit: YouTube] I changed my password lots of times. We won't share it with anyone else. It took a lot of work to get here and I truly believe that she could have had a better outcome at trial. At that point all you need to show is that conflict adversely affected your attorneys performance. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Curd took a plea deal of 25 years in prison. The statement also said Buddy Potter was innocent and that it was Curd who planned and carried out the murders. After being at the interrogation for nearly six hours, Curd told police Jenelles dad Marvin killed Hayworth and Payne. He survived unharmed, though he was found covered in blood. Hayworth was holding their young son, but he was not injured. 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.
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