The Brief
- Hailey Johnson’s family received graphic forensic evidence by mistake, which they believe could support a murder charge against her boyfriend, Brooks Cleary.
- Cleary was convicted for concealing Johnson’s death and making false statements, but her family argues he should have faced a murder charge.
- The case has gained attention through the podcast Real Life – Real Crime, with Johnson’s family hoping for renewed scrutiny and further legal action.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. – The family of a Cobb County woman who died under suspicious circumstances says they were accidentally given a box containing graphic forensic evidence related to her death—items they believe could have supported a murder charge.
The backstory:
Hailey Johnson, 21, died the day after Christmas in 2022 at the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Brooks Cleary. While Cleary was convicted in 2023 for concealing Johnson’s death and making false statements, her family says he should have faced a murder charge.…