Jeffrey Hazelwood: Troubled In Georgia
Being bullied his entire life by his mother, family members, peers, basically by anyone who came upon him had negative comments. Also, Jeffrey had to endure abuse, both physical and psychological, at the hands of his mother, as well as, other family members. From what I gathered, the adults in his life really let this kid down from a very early age with the exception of his grandparents. They truly love Jeffrey and they have always had his best interest at heart. It appears Jeffrey has suffered most of his life with certain psychological and medical issues; however, his parents allowed them to go for many years untreated, instead when he started experiencing hearing voices in his head and when he had trouble focusing and trouble sleeping they assumed it was Jeffrey misbehaving. He would be physically abused as a means of punishment. Sources have said they witnessed him being treated like he was a dog. His mother used drugs for his whole life, even admitting to using drugs while pregnant with Jeffrey, so the abuse actually started even before he was born.
He eventually went to live with his grandparents in Roswell, Georgia. They immediately took him to the doctor to get a physical got him started in therapy. Eventually Jeffrey began a regimen of treatment, including medication, for his new diagnosis of schizophrenia and extreme paranoia. The doctors in Georgia his grandparents took him to said because of the severe long term abuse, Jeffrey had already developed multiple mental health issues. He had began hearing voices and seeing things that weren't actually real.
The crimes he committed against Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis and their families were by no means o.k. in any way, and there is no excuse for this behavior. It was an evil act that Jeffrey committed in the early morning hours of August 1, 2016 behind a Publix shopping center. Before the double murder, Jeffrey was already well known to Roswell Police. Most encounters Roswell police had with Jeffrey were criminal. Roswell Police Department had been dispatched to the home of Jeffrey's grandparents on several occasions. Sometimes while a juvenile, they would find Jeffrey out past city curfew and take him home, and sometimes it was because he was causing trouble there for one or both of his grandparents. On one occasion his grandfather identifies him as the person who stole a rifle from a gun case in the family's home in February 2015. Then, a report from 2013, Jeffrey's grandparents told police their grandson had stolen knives and a sword from a gun case in the family's home. Jeffrey had just turned 16 years old on that occasion. At that same time, his grandmother told officers Jeffrey told her " I'm going to blow and people are going to get hurt", now you would think some sort of intervention would have taken place from either or both the police or grandparents, but no nothing. Unbelievably, the guns or knives were removed or even locked up after that. They even allowed Jeffrey to begin his own knife collection in their home. I'm sure they slept with one eye open. And then as time went on, his mental illnesses escalated to much more severe behavior.
The Murders
I tried to connect Jeffrey to victims, Carter and Natalie, but I'm unsure if he knew them or if they knew him. Jeffrey was known by many students at different schools, even their high school, but only because he sold a lot of students drugs. There's absolutely no evidence that Carter and Natalie did drugs at all, ever. More than likely on August 1, 2016 Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson were just hanging out just being teenagers. That same evening, Jeffrey had been visiting his girlfriend. Now she said she never knew he had a gun that night and he told her when he left he was going home to his grandparents house. In the process of going home, he saw Carter and Natalie pulling in behind the Publix Supermarket. He followed them and just killed them. It is unknown why he picked them to murder, except they were just the first people he saw and he had murder on his mind.
At the time of the murders, unknown to his grandparents, Jeffrey had been off his mental health medications for at least three weeks, maybe even longer. When Jeffrey was stable on his medications, I spoke with his friends and family and they all said he was completely different. He was a nice young man who would do anything for anyone.
The Discovery Of Carter And Natalie
Later in the morning hours, as people got to work at Publix, and they all started to go about their normal lives, delivery trucks started coming to deliver the grocery orders. One driver's life changed forever that day as he pulled in and noticed each teen's body and saw they had been shot execution style and their bodies were placed by their cars. He immediately alerted police and the investigation began.
The Interrogation
August 3, 2016, two days after the murders, Jeffrey Hazelwood was interrogated by the Roswell Police Department. The interrogation was four hours long and Jeffrey was still showing severe signs of psychosis, he even a few times were talking to people who clearly were not in the room. A detective asked Jeffrey if he prefers to be called Jeffrey or Jeff, just a way to get him back to reality. Jeffrey's response was " whatever works".
Not my place to say how this interrogation should have been done; however, I feel like it was wrong to do this under the extreme psychosis Jeffrey's state of mine was in.
From all sources I have spoken with, each of them have said this just didn't sound like Jeffrey at all. While being interrogated by Roswell Police Detectives that day, one detective reported Jeffrey continued saying "I loved her" and "I don't know what's going on, it's all my fault and I don't know what to do anymore I don't know what's going on". While saying these things, Jeffrey was crying uncontrollably. Later in the questioning, his mood would change up, but Jeffrey continued saying things that made no sense. " My marriage is falling apart and I just don't know what to do anymore, and these things in my head won't go away, like these voices. Jeffrey went on to admit, when he approached Carter Davis's car, he opened the door ans Carter confronted him trying to keep him out of the car and protecting Natalie. Jeffrey then hit Carter with the gun and then shot him.
Jeffrey then ordered Natalie out of the vehicle and forced her to remove all of her clothing, and began sexually assaulting her with his hand. He then admitted to forcing her to turn around and face the car and put her hands on the hood, this is all according to Detective Bennett who he allegedly gave this confession to. Jeffrey then proceeded to spanking Natalie, just to degrade her more. He then shoots her in the back of the head, killing her.
Jeffrey then "posed" their bodies just degrading Natalie more, he left her body in a " sexually suggestive " position and Carter's body lay with his arms spread out to both sides.
Jeffrey first stole Natalie's credit card and used it, then went back to the scene and stole Carter's jumper cables. Apparently Jeffrey's car broke down.
Jeffrey did confess he stole the murder weapon from his grandfather, Detective Bennett said.
These delusions and paranoia was just too uncontrollable to continue with questioning, especially without a mental health expert and lawyer present. He was not in reality enough to even ask for an attorney and these detectives took full advantage of that.
After several hours, the detectives gave him some time to calm down, but he was still in psychosis and didn't get any mental health expert to help him or even an attorney. After 30 minutes to "calm down", the detectives returned to the interrogation room with Jeffrey. First they wanted to go over his timeline for the afternoon of July 31st to the early morning hours of August 1st.
Jeffrey's Timeline
July 31st 2PM-11PM Jeffrey said he worked his job at Walmart and then went to hang with his girlfriend Kelsey Bonham. They went together to Roswell Park to stargaze, and then back to Kelsey's home and had sex on a blanket in the backyard. Later, they went inside to watch t.v.
August 1st 2:30 AM Jeffrey said he went home to his grandparent's home for the night.
When he would admit some of the murder, it appeared he would he the voices. He did said when he saw the two teens, Cater and Natalie, he parked and walked down closer to where they were so he could watch them in the backseat of Carter's car having sex. He admitted to approaching the driver side of the car after the two teens returned to the front seat, and telling Carter to " Get Out, Get Out Right Now". He was then asked by the detective did you hit him, and Jeffrey answered "Yes with the gun". Then after admitting this, Jeffrey immediately returned to more of a scared childlike stage my source told me when asked about the killings, he would say " I didn't shoot them". Sometimes he even claimed the bad guy in his head told him to do it, but he could not remember if he actually did do it.
Evidence Against Jeffrey
Then detectives told Jeffrey that a crime took place the same night he was stargazing with his girlfriend at Roswell Park.
When asked about the crime and if he knew it had taken place that night, Jeffrey becomes very anxious saying over and over " It's horrible, It's horrible". The detectives then explained the crime they are talking about happened at the Publix Supermarket right between his girlfriend, Kelsey Bonham's home and his grandparent's home. Detective Bennett explained to Jeffrey that there were cameras that show his car pulling toward the back of Publix, and that's where the murders took place. Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses in the area of the murder scene picked up Jeffrey's SUV and that's what led them to him. Video footage from the nearby UPS Store showed Carter and Natalie enter the parking lot behind Publix at King Plaza. Shortly after on the same video footage you can see a man walking towards the two teens' vehicles and then fleeing. Right after he flees, you see a silver SUV fleeing the parking lot via the Hwy. 92 exit. Police said the SUV in question was believed to be either a Honda Passport or an Isuzu Rodeo. The SUV did have some great distinguishable characteristics like, it had damage to the area of the rear passenger side quarter panel, and also the front wheel was darker.
Carter Davis
Carter Davis, was 17 in 2016 when he was murdered behind Publix Supermarket in Roswell, Georgia, He was from Woodstock, Ga. He was an exceptional lacrosse player with many colleges looking at him. He was the son that parents dreamed of. He deeply cared about people, all people. He was about to start his senior year at River Ridge High School in Woodstock, Georgia, just one day after he was murdered by Jeffrey Hazelwood, while spending time with his teenage girlfriend, Natalie Henderson in the early morning hours of August 1, 2016. Carter has played some sort of ball his entire life, he was a natural athlete. He did not just do well at sports, but he was exceptional in everything he did. His mother, Michele Hurley Davis delivered the most beautiful eulogy at his funeral, August 4, 2016 just a few days after he and Natalie were murdered. Carter was known as a great writer, as well. He wrote an essay on a lacrosse recruiting site. His words " I love lacrosse: the fast pace, the quick moves and the teammates, and I hope to play lacrosse in college". Carter was also involved in The Fellowship Of Christian Athletes. Everyone I've asked, including friends, teachers, the community all said he was a wonderful student and a kind soul.
Natalie Henderson
Just like Carter, Natalie too was just 17 years old when her life was cut short by what some people called a deranged killer in their community.
Natalie was described as a kind soul, an old soul. Natalie was very popular at Roswell High School in Roswell, Ga. She not only was an extremely smart student, but also a member of her school's color guard program. She dreamed of being an architect, and Natalie had an amazing singing voice and even played the guitar. She had a beautiful life in her 17 short years here on earth. She and her sister both came from an amazing family that encouraged their daughter's dreams.
From everyone I've spoken to, there were no negative comments about these two.
Formally Charged In Court
After a person is arrested in the state of Georgia, they have a right to see a judge within 72 hours of the arrest. This appearance in court allows the judge to formally explain the charges to be sure the accused has an attorney. Judge Karen Smith Woodson ruled there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. Also, Mr. Hazelwood was charged with new charges of sexual assault. He was already formerly charged with :
- Two counts of aggravated assault
- Two counts of felony murder
- Two counts of malice murder
- One count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Two counts of theft
- One count of identity fraud
One of Jeffrey's attorneys did bring up in court about his client's several mental illnesses. A judge bound the case over to be heard by Fulton County's grand jury a month later and he was given no bond.
Mr. Hazelwood's lead attorney, Lawrence Zimmerman, has promised several times he plans on providing a vigorous defense.
The Community
After the arrest and the confession, and basically just knowing Jeffrey and his family and how he grew up, a lot of people in the Roswell and Alpharetta area I spoke with would almost try to compare these murders to other murders where a certain person would be bullied for so long that they would just snap and kill the bullies. But that wasn't the case here at all, Natalie and Carter didn't even know Jeffrey and they definitely were not the type of kids that bullied other people.
Mostly, in Jeffrey Hazelwood's case it was the adults in his life that "bullied" him and let him down from a very young age.
These two murders happened in August when Jeffrey was just 20 years old; however, earlier that year he was considering joining The National Guard. If Jeffrey would have had just one person, or one friend that lead when he was younger instead of abusing him, I do believe things who have been different. Another thing people who knew Jeffrey told me, due to his psychological diagnosis he had, I'm sure he should have had a "proxy" or someone to help him handle life. He had been off his medications for weeks when he murdered Carter and Natalie, so had he had that "proxy" they may have helped ensure he took his medications properly, and went to therapy to help him sort out his feelings from the childhood abuse and all the bullying he endured everyday of his life.
Indictments
Fulton County District Attorney's Office did return indictments on all charges the Grand Jury Heard. Up until this point Jeffrey Hazelwood was was represented pro-bono, without any charge, by defense attorney Mike Jacobs. But shortly after the indictments, The Georgia Capital Defenders Office took over the lead on the case. Attorney Brad Gardner, an attorney from that establishment, was considered lead attorney at the time.
The Conclusion
Jeffrey was seen by Doctors on both defense and prosecution sides, and after reading both Doctors findings, the judge did determine that Jeffrey Hazelwood is fit to stand trial. The Fulton County District Attorney's office did intend to seek the death penalty had the case gone to trial, but Jeffrey ended up pleading guilty but mentally ill and received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
One source did tell me Jeffrey is now receiving his medications regularly at the prison and seems to be adjusting quite well.
I do plan to write Mr. Hazelwood in the future, and with his permission I will update you guys
Classy Jules
Comments