Birmingham Man Charged with 24-Year-Old Cold Case Murder in Georgia
A 63-year-old Birmingham man has been charged with the stabbing death of a woman in Georgia that occurred 24 years ago. The arrest was made following advancements in technology and renewed investigation efforts.
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A 63-year-old man from Birmingham has been charged in the stabbing death of a woman in Georgia, a crime that occurred 24 years ago.
Clarence George is facing murder charges for the 2000 killing of Julie Ann McDonald, a 43-year-old pharmacist who was found dead in her home on Arnold Lane in Lafayette, Georgia, on June 11, 2000. According to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, McDonald had been stabbed multiple times and had likely been dead for three or four days before her body was discovered.
At the time, George was among several suspects, as he knew McDonald and was found with her checkbook. However, there was not enough evidence to arrest anyone. The case was revisited in 2015, and evidence was tested, but still, no charges could be filed.
In 2023 and 2024, the case was reopened, with investigators using new technology along with traditional methods like re-interviewing witnesses. This effort led to the formal charges against George. The investigation was a joint effort between the sheriff’s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
George was arrested by U.S. Marshals at his home in Birmingham at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 22. He is currently held in Jefferson County Jail, awaiting extradition to Georgia on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
Although George has a lengthy arrest record in Alabama, it does not include violent crimes. He was 39 at the time of McDonald's death.
Authorities have not yet released a motive for the crime, but they remain committed to solving unsolved cases. Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson emphasized their determination, saying, "We never give up on cold cases."
While many of McDonald’s relatives have passed away, authorities have notified her surviving niece and nephew of the arrest. Sheriff Wilson added, "The biggest gratification in working on these cold cases is giving the family some relief, knowing someone is held accountable for a senseless death."
He also noted, "It doesn't bring great joy, but it does bring some relief that justice is being served."
