GUILTY GA - Timothy Coggins, 23, Murdered, Sunny Side, 9 Oct 1983 *arrests*

Just now seeing thus on CNN. Hopefully they will release more info in the next few weeks as the investigation continues. No details atm.
 
Man killed in 1983 for 'socializing' with white woman, DA says:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/05/us/georgia-cold-case-timothy-coggins-murder-motive

Suspects arrested in the 1983 slaying of a black man in Georgia were angry that he was socializing with a white woman, Spalding County District Attorney Benjamin Coker told CNN.

Timothy Coggins, 23, was found stabbed to death on October 9, 1983, near a high-tension power line in Sunny Side, a town about 30 miles south of Atlanta.


There's also a slightly older article on CNN that has more detail; it covers the original reporting on the case and has some memories of Coggins, descriptions of what happened as the case was reopened, info about how Coggins' murder affected his family, etc.

Killers meant to "send a message," sheriff says of 1983 slaying:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/20/us/georgia-cold-case-timothy-coggins-murder
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...man-finally-gets-headstone-decades-later.html

Not knowing who killed Timothy Wayne Coggins or if the killer might come back to vandalize a well-marked burial site, they held a hurried, fearful funeral and left his grave unadorned, his niece Heather Coggins said.

Now, 34 years later, after two white men have been charged in the racially-tinged cold-case, Timothy Coggins' grave has finally been marked with his name.

The Coggins family unveiled the new headstone Saturday at their home church in Zebulon, Georgia, about 50 miles south of Atlanta.
 
Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 6h6 hours ago
Timothy Coggins' friends and family are in the courtroom to watch the trial. Frank Gebhardt is accused of killing Coggins in a racially motivated murder back in 1983.

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Cathy Russon‏ @cathyrusson 6h6 hours ago
#FrankGebhardt - The judge is on the bench. Openings will begin shortly. https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/watch-live-now-lawandcrime-network/law-crime-network/ …

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Lady Owl‏ @1961LadyOwl 6h6 hours ago
Watch #FrankGebhardt trial from the sources https://www.wsbtv.com/live-breaking


Law & Crime Network‏Verified account @LawCrimeNetwork
NEW TRIAL: 'Racially motivated' cold case begins in Georgia this week. New evidence could link man to 1963 lynching. #FrankieGebhardt.

(video link Law & Crime Network on Twitter...)
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Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 5h5 hours ago
The defense claims that blood found at the scene was tested and that the DNA didn't match Frank Gebhardt.

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Aaron Keller‏ @AKellerLawCrime 5h5 hours ago
Prosecutors admit the police who investigated the alleged racially-motivated killing of #TimothyCoggins in 1983 didn't care about him. They admit the investigation was "shameful" & "incomplete." Despite that, #FrankGebhardt is on trial for murder. @LawCrimeNetwork @lawcrimenews.


Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 6h6 hours ago
The judge in the 34-year old Timothy Coggins murder case is warning observers not to have any emotional displays during the trial or they could be held in contempt.


Wild About Trial‏ @WildAboutTrial 5h5 hours ago
Judge just sent a witness to county jail for 20 days for being in contempt of court by watching the live stream of the trial outside of the courtroom. #FrankGebhardt trial.


Christian Boone‏ @ReporterJCB 6h6 hours ago
Initial investigation into #TimothyCoggins was "Horrific. Shameful. Incomplete," said prosecutor Marie Broder. "They didn’t care about Timothy Coggins." She tells jurors, "You can atone for the sins of the past. "


Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 5h5 hours ago
First state witness is Warren Tillman. Expert witness, former medical examiner and performed Timothy Coggins autopsy in 1983. #11Alive

Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 5h5 hours ago
A former medical examiner is describing the wounds found on Timothy Coggins body.


Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 5h5 hours ago
Next state witness is Jesse Gates. Friend of Timothy Coggins’ family and was Spalding County sheriff’s deputy in the 80’s when murder took place. Racial climate in Spalding was “terrible.” Gates said there was KKK activity in the county. #11Alive



Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 5h5 hours ago
Gates said he had previously warned Timothy Coggins about dating Caucasian women in Griffin in 1983. Gates said it was excepted in Atlanta at the time, but not Spalding Co. Coggins had ignored the advice & was telling Gates about a white woman he was spending time with. #11Alive



Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 5h5 hours ago
Gates says after he warned Coggins, he never saw him alive again. Prosecutors say Frank Gebhardt murdered Coggins because he was socializing with a white woman.

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Cathy Russon‏ @cathyrusson 4h4 hours ago
#TimothyCoggins - Defense attorney for #FrankGebhardt now cross examining Gates. Gates was a police officer and friend of Coggins in 1983. https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/watch-live-now-lawandcrime-network/law-crime-network/ …

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Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 4h4 hours ago
Just confirmed with Spalding Co. DA's office, witness held in contempt for watching trial live stream while sequestered is daughter of Bill Moore. She was sentenced to 20 days in jail. Moore is 2nd man charged with Timothy Coggins' murder & will be tried at a later date #11Alive


Law & Crime‏Verified account @lawcrimenews 4h4 hours ago
The crime scene where Timothy Coggins was killed is an "unspeakable horror.” It is believed he was dragged behind a truck and killed because he was seen dancing with a white woman in October 1983. The case was cold for 34 years, but not anymore: http://bit.ly/2K3QMll

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Law & Crime Network‏Verified account @LawCrimeNetwork 4h4 hours ago
#TimothyCoggins' sister, Telisa Coggins, on the stand. She saw Timothy dancing with a white girl. She said she didn't feel comfortable with it. "When you see a white a person coming to our black club, it raises a red flag."


Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 4h4 hours ago
Sister of Timothy Coggins is now testifying. Fighting back tears as evidence photos of her brother’s body are shown to the jury. #11Alive


Ashley Thompson‏ @AshleyCBS46 4h4 hours ago
We’re hearing from Timothy Coggins sister. She is being questioned by the state. Very emotional testimony...she says back when her brother was killed, investigators did not even interview her.


Richard Elliot‏Verified account @RElliotWSB 4h4 hours ago
Timothy Coggins sister testified that after her brother's murder, they were threatened by someone throwing a brick and later a doll with its head cut off, both with notes telling them to hush or "you're next."


Joe Henke‏Verified account @JoeHenke 3h3 hours ago
Timothy Coggins’ sister testified after her brother’s murder in 1983 her family received 3 items separately. A bloody white t-shirt. A brick with a note. The body of a dog with its neck cut-off and a note attached. The notes said to be quiet and “you’re next.” #11Alive


Cathy Russon‏ @cathyrusson 2h2 hours ago
#TimothyCoggins - Next witness is Samuel Freeman, friend of the victim. Tim told him he was with "Frankie" (Frank Gebhardt, defendant) Freeman knew Gebhardt, went to school with him. https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/watch-live-now-lawandcrime-network/law-crime-network/ …

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Law & Crime Network‏Verified account @LawCrimeNetwork 2h2 hours ago
#TimothyCoggins - Next witness knew #FrankGebhardt. He said in 2016 Gebhardt told him about Coggins, "he didn't live to tell about the white girl he was with." Told him they drugged and gutted Coggins.

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Law & Crime Network‏Verified account @LawCrimeNetwork 1h1 hour ago
#TimothyCoggins - Vaughn said Frank Gebhardt told him they killed the man they had found. He said he (Gebhardt) stabbed him then Bill Moore stabbed him. "It was supposedly over his ex-girlfriend Ruth"

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Former medical examiner says Timothy Coggins was stabbed 30 times (with clip)

"SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. - Testimony has begun Wednesday after lawyers delivered their opening statements in a murder trial prosecutors say was racially motivated.

Lawyers picked a jury Tuesday in the trial of Frank Gebhardt in Spalding County.

Prosecutors said they killed Coggins because he was a black man socializing with a white woman. The 23-year-old was stabbed multiple times and his body was dragged behind a truck, authorities said.

Channel 2's Richard Elliot was at the courthouse when a former medical examiner testified that Coggins was stabbed around 30 times.

Gebhardt is the first to stand trial. Bill Moore initially was to be tried with him, but the defense successfully petitioned a judge to sever the charges.
The jury is made of up eight women and four men; 10 are white and two are African-American.

Here are 5 things to know about the trial:..."

TIMOTHY COGGINS: Trial begins for young black man allegedly murdered for talking to white woman in Georgia in 1983
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Frank Gebhardt Trial Prosecution Opening Statement 06/20/18

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Frank Gebhardt Trial Defense Opening Statement 06/20/18

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Less than half of potential jurors show up for jury selection in cold case murder trial (with clip)
The judge says the worst-case scenario involves summoning additional jurors that are needed, which is "basically snatching jurors off the street" to come serve on the jury
.

Published: 1:43 PM EDT June 18, 2018
Updated: 1:25 PM EDT June 20, 2018

"GRIFFIN, Ga. — Less than half of potential jurors for the trial of the 1983 racially-motivated murder of 23-year-old Timothy Coggins showed up for jury selection Monday morning in Griffin.

11Alive's Joe Henke says only 127 people showed up out of a jury pool of more than 325, according to Judge Fletcher Sams.

“I’ve instructed the clerks to get a list of those no-shows and deliver them to the sheriff’s office to see if we can get those served in case somebody has forgotten about their civic responsibility," Sams said in court Monday afternoon.

By Monday night, the Spalding County Sheriff's Office said deputies would be paying each no-show a personal visit....

"I'm astounded by the lack of response from most of these jurors," Sams said. "This far less than a 50 percent turnout which is unheard of, but we will proceed the best we can."...

The case involves the murder of Coggins in October 1983 in Spalding County. Five people were arrested in 2017 in connection with the murder. Murder charges were filed against 59-year-old Frankie Gebhardt and 58-year-old Bill Moore, Sr. Milner Police Officer Lamar Bunn, his mother Sandra Bunn and Spalding County Detention Officer Gregory Huffman were each charged with obstruction in the case. Authorities say Coggins was killed after socializing with a white woman.

Monday's case is against Gebhardt. The murder case against Moore, along with the obstruction cases against Bunn, his mother and Huffman will be tried separately."

Less than half of potential jurors show up for jury selection in cold case murder trial

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Prosecutor to jurors: 'You will hear a crime scene scream of what happened to Timothy Coggins'

"Griffin, Georgia (CNN)As the trial began Wednesday for one of the men accused of viciously murdering Timothy Coggins in 1983, Coggins' niece said it was a bittersweet day.

"Sweet that we're finally here, 35 years later, but bitter that my grandparents aren't here to see it," Heather Coggins said.

Heather Coggins' grandmother -- Timothy's mom -- died in 2016, but even on her deathbed, Heather previously told CNN, her grandmother "knew that this day would one day come."

Coggins watched as lawyers made opening statements in the trial of Frankie Gebhardt, 60, who is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and concealing a death in the October 1983 slaying...

Gebhardt's trial is expected to last about a week. Moore's trial could begin later this summer.

Three other people -- one a former corrections officer and another a part-time Milner police officer -- are charged with obstruction for their efforts to derail the investigation after it was reopened in March 2017, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said when the five were arrested in October.

As with many cold cases, evidence has gone missing, which defense lawyers say will be key to Gebhardt's defense. And while prosecutors acknowledge some witnesses' memories are spotty, the defense team intends to paint them as a rogue's gallery whose credibility is suspect....

The prosecution's case

Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder admitted to the jury there will be problems with the case. In 1983 DNA fingerprinting was not yet an investigative technique and crime scene investigations weren't what they are today.

Plus, she said, the original investigation -- conducted during an era in which residents say the Ku Klux Klan held rallies and parades in Spalding County -- was "horrific, shameful, incomplete" and closed far too quickly, just weeks after the murder. She conceded that half of the evidence from the crime scene is now gone.

Witness testimony and physical and circumstantial evidence, however, will point to Gebhardt, who Broder said repeatedly boasted about killing Coggins -- though never by Coggins' name, only by "the n-word."...

The defense's case

Defense attorney Scott Johnston seized on the emotion Broder invoked, telling jurors that prosecutors want them to decide the case on their feelings rather than facts.

"The state wants you mad. They state wants you angry. The state wants you in a hurry. They want you to rush through," he said, adding that 35 years ago, the state didn't care about Coggins' death. "Just another dead black man in 1983."

The missing evidence will be key to proving Gebhardt's innocence, Johnston said. Included are shell casings, plaster casts of tire impressions, soil samples containing blood, Coggins' blood-stained sweater, hair samples, a homemade club, an empty Jack Daniels bottle and a $1 bill with red stains that was recovered from a store the day after the murder, he said....

Following opening statements, prosecutors called a former GBI medical examiner,...

... Another witness, Jesse Gates, testified that he dropped off Coggins the night of the murder at a black club in Griffin and found it curious there were three white men outside..."

Georgia man goes on trial for racially charged 1983 slaying of Timothy Coggins' - CNN

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(From left, Bill Moore Sr. and Frankie Gebhardt have been charged with murder in Coggins' death, while Gregory Huffman, Lamar Bunn and his mother, Sandra Bunn, have been charged with obstruction, police say.)
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CNN‏Verified account @CNN 29m29 minutes ago
As the trial began for one of the men accused of viciously murdering Timothy Coggins in 1983, Coggins' niece said it was a bittersweet day. "Sweet that we're finally here, 35 years later, but bitter that my grandparents aren't here to see it."

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‘Unspeakable Horror’: Georgia Prosecutors Bring Racially-Motivated Cold Case Murder to Jurors

"The crime scene in Spalding County, Georgia where Timothy Coggins was killed “screams . . . of unspeakable horror.” It was a “killing field.” That’s how Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder described the death of an African-American man they believe was killed because he was seen dancing with a white woman in October 1983. ...

“This case is a cold case,” Broder reminded jurors. “There will be issues . . . evidence from the crime scene has gone missing.” Plus, “there are inconsistencies in witness statements” after 34 years. The prosecutor apologized for a poor investigation into the crime back in 1983. “The investigation was horrific; shameful; incomplete. I think that’s because nobody cared about Timothy Coggins in law enforcement back in 1983.” She implored jurors to help make right the “sins of the past.”

Broder said the defendant’s own words will link him to the crime...."

https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials...d-timothy-coggins-cold-case-murder-to-jurors/
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Testimony begins in Spalding County 1983 cold case murder trial (with clip- Vinnie Politan)

"CAUTION: Some language used during the live streaming trial testimony may be offensive to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

GRIFFIN, Ga. -- The cold case trial of the 1983 murder of 23-year-old Timothy Coggins got underway in Spalding County Monday morning with its own set of fireworks immediately after opening statements...

Gebhardt's attorneys asked the jury to pay close attention to each person who will testify in the case, including a convicted felon named Christopher Vaughn. The state called Vaughn as a witness on Wednesday afternoon.

Gebhardt supposedly discussed the murder with Vaughn long ago, but he did not immediately come forward to police.

"You're going to hear that 22 years or so later, after Mr. Vaughn is in prison for child molestation that he came forward and wanted to give information about this case," defense attorney Scott Johnston said.

Johnston mentioned the witness could be hoping for a deal on his prison sentence for testifying...."

Testimony begins in Spalding County 1983 cold case murder trial
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