Tuesday, October 14th:
*Motions (Depositions) Hearing (@ 9am ET) - GA –
Mary Frances Crocker (14) &
Elwyn John Crocker, Jr. (‘JR’) (14) (Mary died Oct. 18, 2018, Elwyn died about Nov. 30, 2016 & both discovered Dec. 20, 2018 buried in backyard, Guyton) –
*Kimberly Renee Wright (50/now 56) (“step-grandma”) arrested (12/20/18),
charged (1/29/19), arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder for the deaths of Elwyn, Jr. & Mary, 1 count of sexual battery, 4 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of false imprisonment & 2 counts of concealing a death. Plead not guilty (2/19/20). No bond. DA will seek DP. Effingham County
Judge Matthew K. Hube presiding. State attorney Matthew Breedon & Dana Brown Labeau. Defense attorneys Nathanial L. Studelska out as of 7/3/25, Christina Rudy, Jack M. Downie, Sarah M. Downie & Lead defense attorney Christian Lamar out as lead attorney replaced by Laura Cobb.
Court info from 10/3/19 thru 9/12/25 reference post #553 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-28
9/16/25 Update: Plea hearing. Plead guilty to all charges. Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole (murder charges). 9/16/25 Docket update: [394 & 395] Miscellaneous. Plea before Judge Hube. Matthew Breedon & Robert Busbee for the State. Christian Lamar & Laura Cobb for the defense. Defendant present, currently in Effingham County jail. Guilty plea entered, life sentence without parole. [396] Indictment signed guilty & sentenced on 9/16/25. [397 & 398] Miscelleanous. [399 to 416] Disposition. Guilty plea [Count 1 & 2]. Count 3 & 4 merged. [415 to 425] Sentence. Life sentence-life without parole (counts 1-3). Count 5-14: 20 years & 10 years to serve c/c. Order signed by Megan Gill. Motions hearing on 10/14/25 @ 9am.
9/16/25 Docket updates: [427] Proceedings-GDC receipt #352156. [428] Order. Final disposition-life without parole. [429] Order. Final disposition-amended disposition both filed by Megan Gill. 9/20/25 Docket update: [430] Miscellaneous. Original transcript 9/16/25 guilty plea before Judge Hube. Deposition motions hearing on 10/14/25.
ALSO:
*Motions (Depositions) Hearing (@ 9am ET) - GA –
Mary Frances Crocker (14) &
Elwyn John Crocker, Jr. (‘JR’) (14) (Mary died Oct. 18, 2018, Elwyn died about Nov. 30, 2016 & both discovered Dec. 20, 2018 buried in backyard, Guyton) –
*Mark Anthony “Tony” Wright (31/now 37) (bro of Candice) arrested (1/8/19),
charged (1/29/19), indicted (3/12/19) & arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with malice murder & felony murder in Mary’s death, 1 count of sexual battery, 2 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of concealing a death (Mary & Elwyn) & 1 count of false imprisonment. No bond. DA will seek DP. Effingham County
Wright is brother of Elwyn Sr.'s wife, Candice & overheard a family discussion about Mary's death & called an aunt, who tipped off authorities. Judge F. Gates Peed has also imposed a gag order prohibiting attorneys and investigators from discussing the case outside court.
Judge Matthew K. Hube presiding. State attorney Matthew Breedon. Defense attorneys Melinda Ryals, Martha C. Hall, Craig S. Bonnel & Allan R. Sincox.
8/29/25: Plead guilty to all charges. Sentencing dates 11/12 thru 11/14/25 @ 9am.
Court info from 12/20/19 thru 8/26/25 reference post #545 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-28
8/27/25 Docket updates: [439[ Order on Rule request-granted by Deana Balleck. [439 to 459] State's response to defendant's motions 91, 92, 94 to 101, 103, 105, 108 to 111, 116, 122 to 124 all filed by Matthew Breedon. 8/28/25 Update: Motions hearing continues on 8/29/25 @ 9am. 8/27/25 Docket update: [460] Response to Motion #124-State's response to defendant's motion to conduct pretrial hearing on admissibility of hearsay offered under the "necessity exception" or hearsay evidence offered "to explain conduct" filed by Matthew Breedon. 8/28/25 Docket update: [461] Miscellaneous. Motions before Judge Hube & Matt Breedon & Christine Barker for the State. Allan Sincox & Melinda Ryals for the defense. Defendant present, currently in Effingham Co. jail. WTOC present. Defense motions heard: 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 & 137.
8/29/25 Update: [462] Disposition. Amended-reduced to 2nd degree murder. [463] Disposition. Nolle prosequi. [464-465] Disposition. Guilty plea. [466] Disposition. Nolle prosequi [467-469] Disposition. Guilty Plea. [470] Miscellaneous. Motions before Judge Hube. Matthew Breedon & Christine Barker for the State & Allan Sincox & Melinda Ryals for the defense. Defendant present, currently in Effingham Co. jail. State plea offer accepted, waiver of right to withdraw guilty plea filed. Non-negotiated guilty plea entered, continued ono 10/6, 10/7 & 10/8/25 for sentencing hearing. [471] Indictment. Signed guilty. [472] Miscellaneous. Sworn statement-(no sentencing information completed yet). [473] Miscellaneous. Plea information only. [474] Waiver-Defendant's waiver of right to withdraw guilty plea. [475] Disposition. Guilty plea. [476] Notice printed. Party notice printed court event: sentencing court date: the 29th day of August, 2025.
9/3/25 Docket update: [477] Order on Rule 22 request-granted (WSAV-TV) filed by Kathy Anderson. 9/10/25 Docket updates: [478] Notice of intent to offer expert testimony at sentencing hearing filed by Allan Sincox. [479] Miscellaneous. James Garbarino, PhD. consulting in child & adolescent development summary filed by Simcox. [480] Miscellaneous. Curriculum vita for James Garbarino filed by Sincox. [481] Motion to present testimony at sentencing hearing via video conferencing filed by Sincox.
9/17/25 Docket updates: [482] Notice of intent to offer possible expert testimony at sentence hearing. [483] <otion to present testimony at sentencing hearing via videoconferencing. [484] Notice of intent to offer expert testimony at sentencing hearing all filed by Allae Sincox 9/18/25 Docket updates: [485] Order granting defendant's motion re videoconferencing of Dr. James Garbarino filed by Kathy Anderson. [486] Order granting defendant's motion to present testimony at sentencing hearing via video conferencing-Andrew Garrett filed by Deana Balleck. 9/19/25 Docket update: [487] Request-email & Rule 22 request from CourtTV.
9/22/25 Docket updates: [488] Order Granting Rule 22 request by Court TV. [489] Miscellaneous. Original transcript of guilty plea before Judge Hub on 8/29/25 (sentencing delayed) by Sherri Wages. [490] Order re-setting sentencing hearing 11/12/25 to 11/14/25 by Kathy Anderson. 10/6/25 Docket update: [491] Order granting Rule 22 request by WSAV by Kathy Anderson.Next motions hearing re depositions for Cpt. Rick Dailey & Roy prater on 10/14/25 @ 9am.
*Elwyn John Crocker, Sr. (50/now 56) (“father”) – Motions hearing on 12/15/25.
*Roy Anthony Prater (55/now 61) - 10/24/19 Update: Plead guilty. Sentencing delayed until all defendants’ cases are complete. Will testify against the other 3 defendants. Effingham County
*Candice Heather Crocker (33/now 39) (“step-mom”) - 10/21/20 Update: Plead guilty to 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of cruelty to child, to 2 counts of concealing a death & 2 counts of false imprisonment. Rest of the charges were Nolle Prosequi (dismissed). Sentenced to life without parole & credit for time served (12/20/18 to 10/21/20) to be served concurrently. In plea deal she must testify against the other 3 defendants.
