The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, May 03, 2023, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextA 0 ''SQtlTHSl DE Realtors Chad Tyler • 478-731-7072 LAND • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL WWW.CHADTYLERREALTY.COM THIS WEEK’S INSIDE DEALS ► ►► INGLES • SMARTSOURCE ■ SAVE THE BEST LITTLE PAPER IN GEORGIA INSIDE >>> Find your child’s team from the MC Rec Dept SEE PAGES C3-4 NEW SUBSCRIBERS OF THE WEEK Mac Leskosky Brandon Brown Kathy Tufts Michael Donaldson Janie Smith Toni Altenburg Ron Hughes DEATHS »>6A May Mullis James Henderson Marianne Dunn Merrill Livingston Accused killer in 34-year-old murder gets $34 million bond Murder suspect claims it was self-defense against knife-wielding prostitute By Will Davis publisher@mymcr.net Judge Tommy Wilson set bond at $34 million on Tuesday for accused mur derer Larry Padgett, the In diana truck driver arrested for the cold case murder of 23-year-old Mary Willfong 34 years ago. Padgett, accompanied by his wife, made his first appearance in person in Monroe County court on Tuesday since he was arrested in Indiana and brought to Forsyth on mur der charges on March 1. Monroe County sher iffs Inv. Marc Mansfield credits DNA and genealo gy technology and the FBI with helping him solve the cold case murder. A semen sample taken from 1989 was matched with DNA genealogy banks to identify Padgett as the killer. In asking for bond, Padgett attorney Dustin Buttigieg told Judge Wilson that Padgett killed Will fong it was in self defense. Buttigieg said that Padgett, who turns 60 on Wednes day, May 3, has no criminal record besides the murder charge. Buttigieg said he needs to be driving his truck on the road to make money for his legal battle, See MURDER Page 7A Attorni Larry Padgett, left, is denied bond as he faces Judge Tommy Wilson with his attorney Dustin Buttigieg and wife Stacie Padgett. (Photo/Will Davis) Suspect: ‘Why’d y’all set my truck on fire?’ By Steve Reece stevereece@gmail.com A 59-year-old Juliette man was jailed after allegedly twisting his live- in girl friends arm, tak ing her phone while she called ANDERSON 911 and then setting his own truck on fire while drunk on Sunday, April 30. See ARSON Page 7A Monroe Coun ty fire fighters put out the truck blaze that deputies say was set by a DUI suspect now charged with arson. (Photo / Monroe EMS) Emami buying 3 acres in park for home-building plant s oaaos a Kroger, CVS ‘0 4 8 7 9 1 6 2 6 4 Publix, Dollar General, Circle K George Emami on the 3.4 acres he has a contract to buy for a new home manu facturing company. (Photo /Will Davis) By Will Davis publisher@mymcr.net George Emami is buying 3.4 acres in the vacant Indian Springs Industrial Park for his new division that will build modular and tiny homes. The Monroe County Development Authority at a called meeting on Monday approved a contract to sell 3.4 acres in the parks corner, next to Red Dog, to Prime- Point Ventures, one of Emamis companies. The sale is expected to close July 14. Authority director Joyce White said she couldn’t share the price until the sale is finalized. Emami has already begun a new tiny home development, Cottages at Rocky Creek, on Smith Road, off of John- stonville Road. Emami said his new division, Prime- Point Industrial, is in the process of getting licensed by the state as an Industrialized Building Manufactur er, which will allow them to build modular homes. PrimePoint will build tiny homes and also some full-sized homes that will be pre built in the factory and craned onto permanent See EMAMI Page 6A CD WANT TO BUY: 50 TO 500 ACRES CLOSE IN 7 DAYS • DAVID 478-202-3350

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, May 03, 2023, Image 1