", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. At one point, Barbara ripped the photos that were found in what seemed to be an attempt to hide them from police. I think they would be called masterminds, said Lott. Potter and Curd were arraigned Wednesday. He told Barbara, I did it. That's as close to a confession as we got from him, said Lott. A feud erupted on social media with Curd, Paynes cousin, taking Jenelles side. Facebook Murders revisited: "I did that on purpose" | News Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Now let us turn to take a look at how Mountain City does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. 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. Jenelle Potter lived with her parents Barbara Potter and Marvin Potter, pictured together here. Like the request in 2016, this attempt revolves around new evidence. I was a bad person. It appears to this Court that Jessica Fallin exploited the lack of a written fee agreement between the Potters and Mr. Fallin, counsels lack of direct supervision over his daughters actions, and the Potters preoccupation with their legal issues to sell Potter family property (at least some of which was done in Mr. Fallins office) and otherwise appropriate Potter family finances to the tune of approximately $300,000 during the life of Mr. Fallins representation of the family. The two became an item, with Jenelle hiding her relationship from her strict parents. She said she was the victim of anonymous cyberbullying, some of which she believes came from Hayworth. For Jenelle Potter, she will be 86 years old when shes eligible for release. Jamie Curd, Marvin Potter's friend, has also been charged in the murders. While Marvin was being questioned, police executed a search warrant on the Potter house. The Brady case determined that prosecutors are required to turn over any evidence that would be in favor of the defendant. Social media allowed Jenelle Potter to be someone that she wasnt She invented Chris. It turned out there really was a person named Chris Chris Tjaden, a police officer in Delaware who attended high school with Jenelle Potter who prosecutors said Jenelle based her fictitious CIA friend on. 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. At that time, Reeces only statement was that he would not respond to the letter in question. The murder occurred after months of allegations from Potter's. 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. Convicted Tennessee Woman Denies Wanting Couple Dead After Social Media The 2019 Mountain City crime rate fell by 41% compared to 2018. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Barbara, you wanted to know if youd go to hell? We felt sorry for Jenelle because she was sheltered and sick and stuff, Greenwell told 20/20.. Recommended for you - Johnson City Press Robert Littleton was. But Barbara, pictured above with Marvin, didnt accept her husbands supposed confession of guilt. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. 8,376,755. 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. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 1. The tragic slaying of Billy Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth, which involved Facebook, catfishing and jealousy, reached a national audience, and has now evolved into a true crime book written by the lead prosecutor in the infamous case. Best Places to Live in Mountain City, Tennessee Daughter, mother convicted in 'Facebook murders' case asking for new Jenelle Potter's former friends Billie Jean Hayworth, Billy Payne were murdered. Curd said Buddy picked him up and drove to a church parking lot near the Payne home. Subscriber Verification(Must be Logged In Using Free Account). Shults, who represented Barbara Potter in this part of her appeal, said his client was entitled to due process and independent counsel for her trial. Have a tip or story idea? Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. Because Buddy did have some health issues.. 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.. 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. There was controversy around how the Johnson County Sheriffs Office handled the murder case during the original investigation. On Jan. 31, 2012, a friend found Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne dead by single gunshots to their faces. Mountain City Tn Unfriended Facebook Murders - ThemeLower I did that on purpose, Marvin testified about slitting Paynes throat in his confession at the post-conviction hearing. I did not do that," Barbara Potter told ABC News' "20/20. "I did Bill first and then I think Billie did me. Mountain City, TN - Unfriended Facebook Murders Every Town podcast If you can show the attorney had a conflict of interest, then prejudice is presumed. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. Yeah, youre going to hell. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Appearing in Washington County Court on Wednesday, Barbara Potter, 69, pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitation of . Clear skies. Only a few . Hayworth died while holding her 7-month-old baby boy. Property 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. 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. "I think that we did it to each other. I've done everything. The statement also said Buddy Potter was innocent and that it was Curd who planned and carried out the murders. Rice asked Barbara to confirm that her current attorney, Scott Schults, had performed his job to the best of his abilities, which she did. Methodology: First published on January 24, 2013 / 2:29 PM. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Brooks said he will have to talk with District Attorney Ken Baldwin to determine the states next step, but appealing the ruling could be an issue. According to Mountain City PD, the suspect, identified as Jimmy Gale Morefield, waited for officers to arrive at the scene of the shooting. Jenelle Potter's defense attorney Cameron Hyder said, "Jenelle Potter operates on the level of an 8- or 9-year-old.. And the worst part of it their 8-month-old baby was found still lying in the arms of his dead mother. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Street was pronounced dead at the scene, police report. Story of Mountain City Facebook murders reaches national audience in book, tv special. The shocking murder left 36-year-old Billy Clay Payne and 23-year-old Billie Jean Hayworth dead. I just disliked them. 2023 Compare Cities Economy: Lakewood Park, FL vs Mountain City, TN "I don't want anybody murdered. A withh. Invalid password or account does not exist. He testified in the trial that some of the photos Jenelle and her mother emailed back and forth were from the public portion of his Facebook page, but most of them were not him at all. Potter is serving two concurrent life sentences for the murders of the couple who were found in their Mountain City, Tennessee, home with single gunshot wounds to their faces. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The matriarch of a family trio convicted on two counts of first- degree murder in the so-called Facebook murders was granted a new trial after a judge ruled her trial attorney who also represented her husband at a previous trial had a conflict of interest by representing them both. Create a password that only you will remember. thetomahawk.com | The Tomahawk Local News for Mountain City Tennessee Greenwell introduced Jenelle to her cousin Jamie Curd, who is handy with computers. 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. "Match Any Neighborhood" calculates the Match Level of one neighborhood to another using more than 200 characteristics of each neighborhood. Considering this evidence, the Court concludes Mr. Fallin operated under a conflict of interest in representing both Barbara and Marvin Potter in this case.. 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. The book discusses the police investigation that Brooks said made the crime even more interesting. I wanted the harassment to stop," Potter said. 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. Mountain City Crime and Safety | NewsBreak Mountain City, TN By Becky Campbell Because we knew that they had trouble with [Hayworth and Payne], Woodard told 20/20.. 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. No one wants to kill anyone but we will," Barbara Potter wrote in the email. I unfriended them. — -- Jenelle Potter was a sheltered young woman. Their relationship went south when Hayworth began dating Payne, whom she allegedly knew Jenelle was pining for. Invalid password or account does not exist. Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne were found shot dead in their home. UPDATE: Mother, daughter receive concurrent life sentences in 2012 Mountain City double murder; co-conspirator gets 25 years - PHOTOS/VIDEO, Subscriber Verification(Must be Logged In Using Free Account). The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Mountain City is 1 in 76. Keep an eye out for more updates on the Facebook Murders. When I read this, I was devastated, Lindsay Thomas, a friend of Hayworth and Payne, told 20/20., [Jenelle] was always saying that somebody was mad at her. 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. The two were shot to death in their Mountain City home. Jenelles father, Marvin Potter, and her boyfriend, Curd, then broke into the home of Payne and Hayworth and murdered them. He said he was down here to protect me, protect my parents. The Real 'Fatal Attraction' Killer - Jennifer Reali - Colorado Springs, CO. US Highway 421 connects Mountain City to Bristol, Virginia in the northwest direction and to Boone, North Carolina in the southeast. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Mountain City, Tennessee (TN 37683) profile: population, maps, real Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The 38-year-old Curd reportedly had a romantic interest in Janelle Potter. That's -57.88% lower than the national rate of 2,346.0 per 100,000 people and -68.79% lower than the Tennessee total crime rate of 3,165.5 per 100,000 people. And if I have to forgive any of youns to stay out of hell, Ill see you there, Garland 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. His testimony has to be taken in light of the massive bias hed have to help his family, and it would have to be evaluated in light of the other evidence in the case, Brooks explained. Tennessee National Guard names soldiers in fatal helicopter crash. 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. Jenelle spent time with Greenwell and her friends, including Greenwells brother Billy Payne. MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WCYB) One of six people charged in the kidnapping and murder of a North Carolina man was found guilty in a Johnson County, Tennessee courtroom. Mountain City, TN - AreaVibes Posing as Chris, Jenelle reportedly convinced Barbara that the CIA had sent an agent to Mountain City to protect Jenelle from Hayworth and Payne. Crime, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a I love my husband, but I would not sit here and lie for them," Barbara Potter said. For those that are fuzzy on the nearly decade-old crime, this case, known as the Facebook Murders, revolves around a social media feud that made its way to the real world. (CBS/AP) MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. - An unfriendly Facebook relationship turned downright deadly in northeast Tennessee, authorities say. She did want to go in there and plead guilty, Schults told the paper. My client is not guilty for having an overprotective father, Jenelles attorney Cameron Hyder told 20/20. She is not capable of directing anyone to commit murder. 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. 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. I plead guilty, your honor, Barbara reportedly said. Story of Mountain City Facebook murders reaches national audience in Curd took a plea deal of 25 years in prison. His wife told 20/20 he later worked with the CIA. Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders Southern Fried already serving two consecutive life sentences, Update-mother-daughter-receive-concurrent-life-sentences-in-2012-mountain-city-double-murder-co-conspirator-gets-25-years-photos-video. Mountain City, TN Crime Rates & Map - AreaVibes feet - baths - beds #5 Nc 194 S Todd, NC 28684 - sq. [emailprotected]. And I unfriended her., Jenelles Former Friends Are Found Murdered. The 60-year-old father is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for killing Billy Payne Jr. and his girlfriend, Billie Jean Hayworth. Instead of being herself, my parents tried to make her fit in. Both parties lawyers claimed the information was paramount, considering the Potter womens charges are under Tennessee Code Annotated 39-11-402, criminal responsibility for the conduct of another. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Facebook Murders revisited: I did that on purpose. Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders Southern Fried True Crime Podcast Episode 39 Description In a tiny town in Tennessee, a young couple are brutally shot, execution style in their home. Violent Brooks believes Jenelle was pretending to be Chris. She will eventually be coming up for parole. The day after the womens verdict was announced, Brooks said he tried to unwind, but the facts of the case stayed on his mind. Case suggested by Linda MorganSuggested Reading: Too Pretty to Live: The Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee byJames Brooks, Written, hosted, produced by Erica KelleyResearched by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley HornerOriginal Music by Rob Harrison-Gamma Radio, https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/pottermarvinopn_3.pdf, https://www.amazon.com/Too-Pretty-Live-Catfishing-Tennessee-ebook/dp/B01994PAE8, https://abcnews.go.com/US/social-media-feud-led-murder-young-tennessee-couple/story?id=34346840, https://www.thetomahawk.com/local-news/prison-guard-fired-writing-letter-judge-support-potter-women/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_City,_Tennessee, http://www.city-data.com/city/Mountain-City-Tennessee.html, https://www.wjhl.com/local/tenn-supreme-court-censures-assistant-carter-co-district-attorney-over-facebook-murders-book/1308165452, https://media.wjhl.com/nxs-wjhltv-media-us-east-1/document_dev/2018/07/17/brooks-44880-carter-county-lawyer-censured_1531864697067_48862486_ver1.0.pdf, https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Local/2016/08/12/Court-of-Criminal-Appeals-grants-stay-of-appeal-for-Jenelle-Potter, Catfishing in Mountain City, TN: The Facebook Murders.