We felt sorry for Jenelle because she was sheltered and sick and stuff, Greenwell told 20/20.. Check back later for full story on the hearing. The infamous double-murder was dubbed the Facebook murders after authorities said that the killings were, in part, due to an online feud that was motivated by jealousy and harassment. Midway through her interview with "20/20," Jenelle Potter shut down in tears and walked out back to her cell. Attorney Scott Shults, right, talks to his client, Barbara Potter on Wednesday, July 14. Importantly, when you compare Mountain City to other communities of similar population, then Mountain City crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average. 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. Mountain City crime rates are 69% lower than the Tennessee average. I dont want people to think, Hes just prosecuting the case to write another book, said Brooks, who does not know whether hell ever write another book. By being able to show conflict of interest, we were able to show ineffective assistance of counsel.. 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. Garland also had some harsh words for Barbara Potter, answering a question posed in one of Barbaras emails. Maybe somewhere along the way, hes had a change of heart, but, in my mind, if he wanted to help those women at their trial, hed have done it. I unfriended them. Potters mother Barbara Potter had a job with Hewlett-Packard, and her father Marvin Potter, known as Buddy, was a former marine who served in Vietnam. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, 'PURPOSE IN THE PAIN' Faith, family fuels Eastside girls basketball coach Funk, VHSL HOOPS: George Wythe's Ty Campbell making his own legacy, LOCALS IN THE PROS: Mac McClung back at the G League grind, Richlands altercation under investigation, VHSL CLASS 1 BOYS: George Wythe hits 16 3s in trouncing of Twin Springs, VHSL HOOPS: Ryan Horne having senior year to remember for Twin Springs, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, REGION 1D: Fourth time the charm for J.I. Cost of living in Mountain City is 5% lower than the Tennessee average. The evidence in this case was such that Barbaras best defense would have been to argue that she did not commit the crime, and if her husband did commit the crime, she was unaware of her husbands intentions, and therefore she did not assist or promote the offenses. She could assume a different identity and be as hateful as she wanted to be, Brooks said. Mr. Fallin was not granted power of attorney over the Potter family assets counsels daughter Jessica was. 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. The post-conviction judge, William Acree, heard testimony for this appeal over a three-day period in July. Barbara Potter, her husband Marvin Buddy Potter, and their daughter Jenelle Potter had all previously been convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder by Washington County juries. Were guaranteed that in our Constitution, Shults said. 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. A withh. Because you are guilty? Rice asked. Blackwood told Curd there was no guarantee the parole board would agree to grant his release that quickly. Every Town You've got a Facebook friend request - or conversely, your friend request has been accepted - and the thrill of having a new virtual friend that may open beautiful possibilities is undeniable. His wife told 20/20 he later worked with the CIA. In one of them, Barbara Potter was communicating with Chris and sounded like she wanted Payne and Hayworth dead. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "I emailed him through my email, and I said, you know, 'How'd you get my screenname, password?' When the Potter women went on trial in 2015, Marvin Potters case was still on appeal. Potter reportedly agreed. Listen to Mountain City, TN - Unfriended Facebook Murders and seventy-seven more episodes by Every Town, free! 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. Washington County District Attorney's Office. 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. 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. I never envisioned writing a book about the case, said Brooks, who noted that he has aspired to write his entire life. Please enter valid email address to continue. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The family patriarch, Marvin Potter, is already serving two consecutive life sentences after being convicted in October 2013 of the murders. Barbara potter. Theyve threatened to take Jenelle, cut her head off.. I didn't truly believe that Buddy Potter was capable of doing this, Lott said. Rental prices in Mountain City are 40% lower than the . Press Senior Reporter Jamie in the interview had said something to the effect of, Is the CIA here? That was a very strange question to me, Lott said. I think they would be called masterminds. Barbara Potters post-conviction attorney, Scott Shults, successfully argued that his clients trial attorney, Randy Fallin, was deficient in representing her because he also had represented Marvin Potter. The murder occurred after months of allegations from Potter's. The letter also included records of others seeking court-ordered protection from Jenelle because of the alleged harassment stretching back four years, claiming the victims should have been protected better. 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. Then, too, she wanted to make amends with what had happened. His letter accused Reece of damaging the prosecutions case with his public comments. The CIA agent Chris had apparently been corresponding with Barbara and warning her about threats to her daughters life. You have to have hard, concrete facts in court, he added. I just needed to lay it out. Potter was found guilty in May of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the 2012 shooting deaths of Billie Jean Hayworth, 23, and Billy Payne, 36. At that time, Reeces only statement was that he would not respond to the letter in question. Invalid password or account does not exist. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Partly cloudy skies. When they impounded Marvin Potter's truck, police also found several plastic bags of shredded emails that an agent put back together. Barbara Potter, 69, of Mountain City, has been serving two life sentences alongside her daughter, Jenelle Potter, 38, in the Jan. 31, 2012, shooting deaths of Billy Payne, 36, and Billie Jean Hayworth, 23. Jenelle spent time with Greenwell and her friends, including Greenwells brother Billy Payne. Our nationally-comparable school ratings are covered under US Patent No. For Jenelle Potter, she will be 86 years old when shes eligible for release. Jenelle Potter during her murder trial in Jonesborough in 2020. feet 1 baths 3 beds #3 Highway 133 Shady Valley, TN 37688 1,120 sq. The feud ended with Payne and Hayworth unfriending Jenelle on the social media site, according to the report. So he decided to write it down. I just disliked them. She did want to go in there and plead guilty, Schults told the paper. After Curds plea on Tuesday, state prosecutors Assistant District Attorneys Matt Roark and Dennis Brooks presented two witnesses to testify about how the deaths of Payne and Hayworth affected them and their families. While being questioned by detectives, Marvin said, Ever since all this crap started, Ive had my life threatened. It was higher than in 27.8% U.S. cities. "I don't want anybody murdered. Moreover, the rate of property crime in Mountain City; burglary, larceny ($50 or more), grand theft auto, and arson; is 10 per 1,000 residents. There was a web of jealousy, allegations of threats from Hayworth and Payne toward Jenelle Potter, emails between them all and even an alleged bounty for Jenelles murder, JCP reported. "He was watching these people that he said were harassing her on the computer and calling her. Eventually both sides deleted each other as friends on Facebook. In a tiny town in Tennessee, a young couple are brutally shot, execution style in their home. While it seemed that Jenelles social life was finally blooming, she was being relentlessly bullied online with anonymous comments appearing on her Facebook page. From our analysis, we discovered that violent crime in Mountain City occurs at a rate higher than in most communities of all population sizes in America. Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. — -- Jenelle Potter was a sheltered young woman. They unfriended me," Jenelle said. Marvin Potter is accused in the shooting deaths of a couple who removed his adult daughter as a friend on the social network. The business relationship imputed to Mr. Fallin by her daughters actions was adverse to Petitioner and therefore barred by the Rules of Professional Conduct. 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. On July 13 and July 14, the Washington County Criminal Court revisited a crime that put a national focus on the small town of Mountain City. Subscriber Verification(Must be Logged In Using Free Account). No one wants to kill anyone but we will," Barbara Potter wrote in the email. Potter was once friendly with Payne in person, hanging out at barbecues and even going rappelling together. Petitioner also could have argued that if she was guilty of anything, she was guilty of lesser offenses. Courtesy Tate Davis Jenelle and Her Family Adjust to Life in Mountain City Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. The Rules of Professional Conduct impute the actions of non-lawyers to their attorney employers. And the worst part of it their 8-month-old baby was found still lying in the arms of his dead mother. Hayworth was holding their young son, but he was not injured. 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. He testified at Barbara and Jenelles trial that Buddy Potter asked him for a favor, then cashed in on it the morning of the murders. Payne, 36, and Hayworth, 23, were killed about three years ago in their Mountain City home by Marvin Potter and Jamie Curd. Barbara could have argued that if her actions could have been construed as encouraging her husband to act, it resulted from her being duped or catfished.. "I didn't hate [Hayworth and Payne]. With no evidence or DNA left at the crime scene, police rely on the rumor mill and their instincts to try and identify suspects. feet - baths - beds #5 Nc 194 S Todd, NC 28684 - sq. Winds light and variable. By Becky Campbell The murders shocked the public conscious, leading cases to be moved out of the county because of pre-trial publicity, and were also the subject of a book penned Deputy District Attorney Dennis Brooks titled, Too Pretty to Live, the Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee.. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. I was horrible. He also said he never communicated by email with the women and hadnt seen Jenelle since high school. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. There was controversy around how the Johnson County Sheriffs Office handled the murder case during the original investigation. Potter and Curd were arraigned Wednesday. "I didn't murder anyone," Jenelle Potter told ABC News' "20/20.". Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Community gathers for Seuss on the Loose, Red Cross volunteers helping prevent house fires, JC parks announce closures following storms, Northeast State to host Amateur Highland Games, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Amazon pauses Phase 2 construction of HQ2 in Arlington, Knox PD: Third suspect arrested in shooting of JC, Police locate two endangered missing children, More from WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather, Formerly homeless vet thriving after decade on streets, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky, Tennesseee motorcyclists, AAA disagree on helmet, Greeneville police chief to retire April 1, 13 charges for Kingsport woman after drug investigation, Theater pulls film over pastors autism comments, PHOTOS: Storm damage from across Tri-Cities. appearing in washington county court on wednesday, barbara potter, 69, pleaded guilty to two counts of . Jenelle Potter was jealous of the couples relationship and created a CIA agent, named Chris, to get into touch with her parents, Brooks said. Jenelle Potter's defense attorney Cameron Hyder said, "Jenelle Potter operates on the level of an 8- or 9-year-old.. And if I have to forgive any of youns to stay out of hell, Ill see you there, Garland said. Jenelle Potter had a love interest in Payne and apparently wasnt happy when he began dating Hayworth. Acrees ruling, filed Wednesday in Washington County, stated that Fallins representation of both Marvin and Barbara Potter negated Barbara Potter of a fair trial. Payne, 36, and Hayworth, 23, were killed about three years ago in their Mountain City home by Marvin Potter and Jamie Curd. Defense attorney Scott Shults listens as attorney Grace Studer makes closing arguments in a post-conviction hearing for Barbara and Jenelle Potter in July 2021. For more information about the book, visit www.diversionbooks.com. He did different jobs. The prosecutor noted that the case is layered and the subjects are compelling.