- Publication: The Red and Black (University of Georgia student newspaper) — Weekend
- Author: Noah Pittard, Staff Writer
- Original Publication Date: Friday, April 23, 1993
As the roller-coaster investigation of Jennifer Stone’s death drags into its 52nd week, Athens police say they are still making progress despite that there hasn’t been a real break in the case since July.
To date, nearly 100 people who were either in the neighborhood at the estimated time of Stone’s death or fit other undisclosed criteria have been discounted as her killer — 43 through DNA testing. Police are currently waiting for DNA results from two additional suspects and are following up leads on four others.
Sgt. W.J. Smith said many current leads, including the current description of the killer, are a result of a July 1 windfall where a camera missing from Stone’s apartment surfaced in a drug raid.
Until the camera was found, police say a lack of solid material evidence, including a palm print on Stone’s bedframe that proved to be unidentifiable, left authorities almost solely dependent on blood and hair evidence.
“We knew the cameras were missing and we said nothing to anyone,” Smith said. “We knew it would be the only tie (to Stone) unless we just got lucky.”
For nearly three months police waited for the cameras to turn up while making the most of the hair and body fluid evidence, he said. Those with a slight connection to the case were asked to provide hair and blood samples to compare to those taken from Stone’s apartment.
The stolen camera quickly led police to three men who told investigators they helped a man police now say could be the killer sell Stone’s cameras within hours of her death.
Donald Wilson, 32, and suspended University employee Earnest Brown, 29, were arrested the first week of July for possession of the stolen cameras. Both were indicted last August, but charges against Wilson have been dropped.
Police said the man approached Wilson, whom he did not know, around 3 a.m. April 23, looking for someone to buy the camera. Wilson and the man then met Brown and Eric Taylor and traded the camera to Taylor, who returned to his room at the Classic Inn. Police said Taylor claims he paid the men $20, but Brown told police Taylor actually traded crack cocaine for the camera.
Once back at the hotel, police said, Taylor spent the camera’s remaining film photographing his room, while Brown, Wilson and the unidentified man smoked the crack on Brown’s porch.
Neither Brown nor Wilson could tell police where the man went after selling the last camera.
Police said while some current suspects may not have a direct link to the stolen cameras, they are linked to other factors, including drugs, which surfaced when police traced the cameras.
“The cameras being traded for drugs led us to believe Stone was killed by someone looking for something to trade for drugs,” Smith said.
[Graphic] Where Jennifer Stone’s camera went 1. Man with camera meets Wilson on Hancock. Asked Wilson where the cameras could be sold. 2. Wilson takes camera man to the intersection of Hancock and Finley where they meet Brown and Taylor. 3. The three men smoke traded crack on Wilson’s porch. 4. Brown takes Wilson & camera man to Parkview apartments where Brown sells camera for $15. (Map: Prince Ave., Lumpkin St., Broad Street, Baxter St. — Timothy Moody / The Red and Black)