GA GA- Herman Wilder, 56, fatally beaten w. a wooden stake, outside his apart., Lumpkin County, May, 2001, DNA- Carroll Dean Burrell, 41,(dec.), 2025.

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The 2001 Murder of Herman Wilder is Now Solved

Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office Teams with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 2001 Murder of Herman Wilder

dnasolves.com

''In May 2001, 56-year-old Herman Wilder was beaten with a wooden stake and killed outside his apartment in Dahlonega, a small city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, about 70 miles north of Atlanta. The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating the homicide. It was determined that the blood from an unknown individual was on the wooden picket and on a hat belonging to the suspect that were located at the scene. Both items were tested for DNA and the unknown profiles from the wooden picket and the hat matched. An STR profile was uploaded to CODIS but there was not a match to a known person. Despite an exhaustive investigation, the suspect could not be identified and the case went cold.

In 2023, the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help to identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified suspect. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Carroll Dean Burrell, who was 41 years old at the time of the attack. Burrell, who has since died, is not believe to have known Herman Wilder. Burrell had a history of mental health issues and was known to have exhibited delusional and violent behavior.''

Rabun County man, now deceased, ID'd as killer in Lumpkin County cold case

Lumpkin County investigators crack a 24-year-old cold case and say the murder trail led to a now-deceased Rabun County man.

nowhabersham.com

 

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Nov 7, 2025
The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office announced that the 2001 homicide of Herman Wilder has been officially solved through DNA analysis.