Mother's conviction upheld in baby's death

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- The Supreme Court of Georgia has unanimously upheld convictions for a woman found guilty of beating her young daughter to death in 2011.

In November 2012, a Hall County jury found Deanna Renee Kipp guilty of several charges, including felony murder and involuntary manslaughter, in the death of 18-month-old Kaylee Kipp. Deanna Kipp was also convicted of abusing her 7- and 4-year-old daughters. She received four concurrent life sentences plus 35 years in prison.

Kipp's live-in boyfriend, Stephen Clark West, was convicted in August 2012 of malice murder in Kaylee Kipp's death and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

RELATED | Mom, boyfriend charged in baby's death

Kaylee Kipp's body was found inside a crib in her mother's Gainesville apartment on June 12, 2011. The Hall County Medical Examiner determined she'd been beaten all over her head and body, and was asphyxiated when someone pressed her face down hard into the pad of her crib.

Investigators found injuries, including bruises and cigarette burns, on Kipp's other two children. The older girl told her foster mother that West spanked her, and that she was the one who found Kaylee Kipp dead after her mother made her go check on the baby.

Deanna Kipp appealed her conviction, saying the jury's verdicts of both felony murder and involuntary manslaughter were mutually exclusive.

In Monday's opinion, a Georgia Supreme Court justice dismissed Kipp's claim, saying "the verdicts at issue are supposed by evidence of separate acts, committed at separate moments during the night Kaylee was killed, and thus, are not mutually exclusive."

However, Georgia's high court also determined the original jury erred in sentencing Kipp on four counts of felony murder because "the prohibition against double jeopardy does not permit a defendant to be punished on multiple murder counts for a single homicide." Therefore, Kipp must be re-sentenced on those counts.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

2 shot, 1 attacked outside sports bar

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Two people were shot and another was assaulted outside a south Fulton County sports bar Monday morning.

It happened at around 2:30 a.m. at The 50 Yard Line on Old National Highway.

Fulton County police said one man suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the stomach, while another man was severely beaten. A woman was shot in the leg.

Witnesses said the victim with the most serious injuries was a popular regular at the bar. His name has not been released.

All three victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Police have not yet named any suspects or given a motive.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Parents mark 6 year anniversary of son's disappearance

SNELLVILLE, Ga. -- Six years after Justin Gaines disappeared, his parents still dote over his many photos. There is not a day that his mother, Erika Wilson, doesn't take a moment to hold a picture of him.

"He would be 24 right now. I wonder what degree he would have graduated with and if he'd have a wife and kids," Wilson said.

Gaines was 18 when he disappeared in the early morning hours of November 2, 2007.

RELATED | Years later, still no trace of Justin Gaines
PHOTOS | Missing Georgians

He was last seen at the popular Duluth nightclub Wild Bill's. Surveillance video shows him leaving the club at around 2 a.m.

From there, the trail goes cold -- and has stayed cold.

Steven Wilson married Erika when Justin was just 4 and raised him. 

"People don't drop off the face of the earth in the middle of Gwinnett County. Somebody knows or saw something," he said.

Convinced of that, his parents have coordinated searches, passed out flyers and still work with a private detective to try to figure out where their son is.

"We still hope he is alive, but if he isn't we still would like closure. We just want answers," Erika Wilson said.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hundreds sign petition to stop SPSU-KSU merger

MARIETTA, Ga. -- Students, alumni and faculty of Southern Polytechnic State University are fighting what they say is a "hostile takeover" of the SPSU campus by the University System of Georgia, reports the Marietta Daily Journal.

The USG Board of Regents will consider a proposal this month to consolidate the schools. The planned merger is part of an ongoing system-wide series of institutional consolidations aimed at gaining efficiencies and cutting costs.

By Monday morning, more than 2,200 supporters had signed two different petitions on change.org, an online forum that allows people to campaign on a wide range of issues.

The petitions, dubbed "SPSU and KSU merger: Stop the merger" and "Stop Kennesaw State from merging with Southern Polytechnic State," also attracted parents of enrolled SPSU students and high school seniors who plan to apply to the school voicing their opposition to the merger.

Kennesaw State is the third-largest university in the state system. The school, which marked its 50th anniversary this year, offers nearly 20 graduate degree programs in many fields.

Southern Poly, which was founded 65 years ago and moved to Cobb County in 1961, specializes in science, engineering and technology.

(Atlanta Business Chronicle)

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge to decide on coroner's inquest in Kendrick Johnson case

Surveillance video taken inside Lowndes High School shows Kendrick Johnson (far right) walking into the gym where he was later found dead.

(WXIA) -- A judge will decide Monday if there will be a coroner's inquest in the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson.

The Valdosta teen's body was found inside a rolled-up wrestling mat at his high school in January.

Johnson's parents asked for the inquest last month after a south Georgia coroner refused to reopen the case.

Johnson's death was originally ruled an accidental asphyxiation, but a second autopsy ordered by the teen's parents determined he'd been killed by blunt force trauma to the neck.

When Johnson's body was exhumed for the second autopsy, investigators discovered his organs were missing and the remains were stuffed with newspaper. Neither the coroner's office nor the funeral home that prepared the body for burial admitted to taking the organs.

Last week, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced he plans to investigate Johnson's death.

FOLLOW THE KENDRICK JOHNSON CASE
* More video released in Johnson's death
* Johnson's death becomes a federal case
* Kendrick Johnson's parents talk to 11Alive News

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Good News: Tripp is on his way home!

(WXIA) - Word from Stacy Halstead Monday morning was that little Tripp was on his way home after a successful surgery last week.

Tripp had been hospitalized at both Scottish Rite and at Egleston over the past two weeks for his 14th surgery. 

Stacy's update late Sunday:

Happy to report we have no exciting news. Ha ha. Just had a great calm day. Took Tripp down to the zone to watch the game. We painted a helmet for Dadda and then wheeled around outside. Tripp is having a CT scan in the morning so pray pray pray that everything is good. No more surgeries since he is feeling better. Then we get to go HOME. Not that I don't love the hospital but after spending last week in Egleston and this week in Scottish Rite, I am ready for my bed and I know Tripp is ready to have his bed back too. Thank you all for your prayers and positive thoughts. Love you all.

She posted a second update Monday morning:

Great news, We get to go home!! Tripp had another good night. Will post once we are home. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Tripp suffered a severe brain injury after being hit by a falling tree branch at his daycare center more than a year ago.

RELATED STORIES

* Tripp Halstead back in the hospital
* SLIDESHOW: Tripp's road to recovery
* A day in Tripp's life
* Stacy Halstead talks to 11Alive
* Tripp starts preschool
* Hollywood A-listers surprise Tripp

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Corner Bakery Café opening location at Hartsfield-Jackson

ATLANTA - Corner Bakery Café is opening its newest Metro Atlanta location at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Tuesday.

The new eatery becomes the only airport location for the chain, which has locations in 15 states and Washington, DC.

Corner Bakery Café serves baked goods, salads, pasta, sandwiches and other foods in a fast casual atmosphere. The chain started on Chicago's north side in 1991.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More