20 years later, palm print leads to suspect in local mom’s murder
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Two decades after the brutal stabbing death of an Augusta mom, authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in the cold case.
The suspect is already in prison.
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Randall Amos on Wednesday secured a murder warrant for Juan Renardo Chunn, 56, in connection with Catrina Beatrice Evans’ 2005 death.
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Evans was found stabbed to death on Aug. 20, 2005, inside her apartment at 2445 Amsterdam Drive.
Deputies discovered her body around 8:33 p.m., with her 1-year-old child alive at the scene.
This past July, investigators revisited the case and resubmitted a palm print found near Evans’ body to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
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The print was identified as belonging to Chunn, also known as Juan Renaldo Tillman.
Chunn is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder at the Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville, N.C.
Richmond County authorities will now pursue a murder charge here.
“Our office remains committed not only to working current cases but also to reviewing past and cold cases,” said Sheriff Eugene Brantley. “Every victim deserves justice, and every family deserves closure.”
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He said revisiting investigations with today’s technology and resources helps authorities hold violent offenders accountable and ensure they can no longer harm others.
The Evans family has been notified of the new developments.
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