On Friday, Atlanta police released new photos of a possible witness to the deaths of Atlanta woman Katherine Janness and her dog in Piedmont Park. Later this afternoon, he was located and is currently cooperating with law enforcement.
According to Atlanta PD, the witness came forward within hours after photos of him jogging were shared across social media. He’s not considered a suspect, police said.
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.
“I ran up to her, I tried to feel for a pulse but it was clear that she was gone. I turned around and I just ran out of the park,” Clark previously told 11 Alive News. “It was dark, and I didn’t know what was going on. I was terrified and shocked. That’s when I called the cops immediately.”
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.”
Authorities also released security footage Wednesday of several people in the area around the time the attack happened. Officials didn’t say that anyone in the footage is a suspect in the case, but it’s possible they could have seen something that can assist with the investigation.
“What we are hoping is that these individuals will come forward and what we are hoping is that that they saw something while in the park,” Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton said.
Atlanta PD 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: This photo shows a memorial at the Piedmont Park, Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Atlanta. Authorities are searching for the person who fatally stabbed a woman who was walking her dog in Piedmont Park, one of Atlanta’s most popular parks. Katherine Janness, 40, was found dead in Piedmont Park around 1 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Her dog had also been killed. (AP Photo/R.J. Rico)]
