Atlanta authorities shared photos of numerous people spotted on camera in the Piedmont Park area shortly before Katherine Janness and her dog, Bowie, were brutally murdered.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the incident happened July 28 off of 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive. Janness, 40, told her fiancee, Emma Clark, she was taking a walk with their dog, Bowie, after dinner. It was the last time Clark spoke to Janness.
When Janness failed to return home, Clark reportedly traced Janness’ location by using a phone app. Clark found both Janness and Bowie dead at the entrance of Piedmont Park at around 1 a.m.
The Atlanta Police Department described the scene as “gruesome” and said the victim was found stabbed numerous times.
“It’s a gruesome scene,” Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said. “Upon their arrival, they did, in fact, find a female deceased in the park, appears to be from some type of stab wounds.”
Officials didn’t say that anyone involved in these photos is a suspect in the case, but it’s possible they could have seen something that can assist with the investigation. Officials also said that although another murder took place near Stone Mountain hours after Janness’ murder, there is no indication that the two murders were carried out by the same person or that they’re related in any way.
The Stone Mountain victim, Tori Lang, 18, was shot to death in Yellow River Park, in Gwinnett County. Janness was found brutally stabbed numerous times in a way that authorities have described as unusual.
Police added that there isn’t any evidence indicating that Janness’ death could be the work of a serial killer, despite rumors floating around social media.
“I think that quite often what we are now hearing is a lot of sensationalism and misinformation as it relates to what we are seeing, it is really causing us more problems – especially with the community that we serve,” Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.
Authorities have not released a possible suspect’s name or description at this time in Janness’ murder. The FBI has joined in on the investigation.
Atlanta police is currently offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the suspect’s arrest and indictment. Animal rights group PETA added in $10,000, doubling the reward to $20,000.
If you have any information that could help with the investigation, please call the Atlanta Police Homicide Unit at 404-546-4235 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
“We want the public to know that the park is safe,” Chata Sparks, APD’s director of public affairs, said.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured Photo: Katherine Janness/Facebook; Atlanta PD]
