Case Briefing

Case Title: The Mitchell Road Murders
Victims: Cheryl Newsome (72) and Troy Bennett (72)
Date of Crime: August 2, 2020
Location: Mitchell Road, Warren County, Georgia
Crime Type: Double Homicide
Status: Unsolved
Primary Agencies: Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)
Key Leads:

• Robbery suspected – items missing from home (TVs, cash), but safe left untouched
• Victims were well-known and respected; family believes they were targeted
• Case accepted under Georgia’s new Coleman-Baker Act for cold case review
  Reward: $10,000 for information
  Tip Line: GBI at 706-595-2575 or Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 706-465-3340

🫖 Tea and Mystery: The Mitchell Road Murders

A Cold Case with Warm Hearts Still Waiting for Justice
Warren County, Georgia – August 2, 2020

In a close-knit rural community where everyone knows your name, tragedy struck in the most unimaginable way. Cheryl Newsome and Troy Bennett—both 72 years old—were brutally murdered inside their quiet home on Mitchell Road in Warren County, Georgia. Three years later, their case remains unsolved, their family haunted by unanswered questions and aching memories. But hope lingers in the form of community efforts, legislative change, and the ever-watchful eyes of Georgia’s Cold Case Unit.

This is not just another unsolved case. It’s the stolen story of two people deeply loved by family, friends, and neighbors. And today, we’re sitting down with our tea to honor their lives and stir up awareness for a case that must be solved.

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💔 A Sunday Like Any Other… Until It Wasn’t

On August 2, 2020, Cheryl and Troy had spent a lovely Sunday afternoon at a fish fry with family. “They actually came to my house about 3:30 in the afternoon,” Cheryl’s daughter, Wendy Purvis, told the Cold Case Project. “They came home about 6:30 in the evening. I talked to Mama at 7:30 and that was the last time we spoke.”

That night seemed typical. Troy, a retired firefighter and proud Vietnam veteran, was working on a Blackstone griddle he’d picked up at auction. Cheryl, likely curled in her favorite recliner with a blanket, had a quiet evening ahead.

But on the morning of August 3, Cheryl never arrived to pick up her granddaughter for a scheduled sports physical. That absence triggered alarm bells.

“When she hadn’t picked up Gracie by 10 o’clock, I knew something was wrong,” said Purvis. She sent her daughter next door—right into the heart of the horror.

“She walked in the back door and found Troy on the floor… then found her grandmother too.”

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😢 The Ripple of Shock

News spread fast. Cheryl’s younger sister, Sandra Azimi, was in Macon when she received the call.

“I pulled into Burger King on the Gray Highway, and they had to call my daughter to come get me. You just don’t think about something like this happening in a rural community.”

Special Agent Patrick Morgan from the GBI was brought in that same day to assist with the investigation.

“It probably did shock a lot of people,” Morgan said. “From a GBI perspective, it’s not unheard of, but for a place like Warren County—it’s rare.”

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🕊️ Who They Were: Love, Laughter, and Legacy

Cheryl Newsome was more than just a nurse—she was a nurturer in every sense. A meticulous caregiver known across multiple nursing homes, her co-worker Judy Logue described her as the gold standard.

“She probably got Employee of the Month more than anybody. And then she got Employee of the Year.”

Judy remembered her friend as a joyful spirit—always in costume for Halloween, always decked out in bling, and always ready with a smile. “We didn’t see each other outside of work often, except for our grandkids’ ballgames,” she said. “But I had just met Troy at one of those games.”

And Troy? He was “good to me and good to my grandchildren,” Cheryl told Judy once.

Austin Bennett, Troy’s grandson, remembers him as a loving, fearless man who taught him the joy of the outdoors—and the strength to face life’s hardships.

“Poppy taught me how to be relentless and brave… catching snapping turtles barehanded. We would hang out in the pond for hours. He taught me how to play pool—and he’d let me win sometimes.”

“Not being able to feel his arms wrap around for one more hug… it’s tormenting. We were robbed of so many future memories.”

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🕵️‍♂️ The Investigation: A Robbery… or Something More?

From the beginning, investigators confirmed that items were missing from the home. TVs. Cash. Yet strangely, the recently purchased safe—a cash-paid item from an auction—was left untouched.

“Everywhere they went, Troy paid in cash,” said Purvis. “I just think the wrong people got ahold of that information.”

Judy Logue echoed that suspicion:

“You don’t buy a safe without putting something valuable in it. I think they were targeted—most definitely.”

GBI Agent Morgan confirmed that a robbery angle is being considered. “There are items missing from the home,” he said. “That much I can say.”

Adding weight to the case, Morgan also submitted several items for DNA testing. With the support of Georgia’s newly formed Cold Case Unit, those tests are being prioritized—and possibly funded—through the new legislation.

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📜 The Coleman-Baker Act: A Light in the Darkness

In July 2023, the Coleman-Baker Act went into effect. This law allows designated family members to request a cold case review by the GBI, provided the agency was involved in the initial investigation. Cheryl and Troy’s case is among the first accepted under this new law.

“It just gets people… seasoned with cold cases,” Purvis explained. “They can look at the case with fresh eyes and maybe catch something missed.”

Patrick Morgan added, “I haven’t told the Cold Case Unit anything about the case. They’ll be going in clean.”

That unbiased lens may be exactly what this case needs.

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💡 A Family Still Fighting

Cheryl and Troy’s family refuse to let the case grow cold. They’ve created the Justice for Cheryl Newsome and Troy Bennett Memorial Group on Facebook. Two billboards stand tall in McDuffie County, broadcasting a $10,000 reward and tip line.

Their voices may tremble, but they don’t waver.

“My aunt died last year of cancer,” said Azimi. “She was close to Cheryl. She said, ‘I hope before I die they find who did this.’ But that didn’t happen.”

“It will never be over,” said Purvis. “This is going to be part of our life forever. But yes, I think it will help when someone is arrested. When someone goes to prison for this.”

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☎️ You Can Help

Even the smallest detail can crack a case wide open. If you know anything—no matter how minor it may seem—please contact:

📞 GBI: 706-595-2575
📞 Warren County Sheriff’s Office: 706-465-3340

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🫖 Final Sip

As we place our teacups down today, we remember Cheryl and Troy not as victims, but as vibrant souls who lived with laughter, love, and purpose. Their story deserves an ending. Their family deserves peace. And somewhere out there, someone knows something.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s keep the pressure on. And let’s speak their names until justice answers back.

Much love and many blessings,

Mrs.B

#JusticeForCherylAndTroy #ColdCaseSpotlight #TeaAndMystery