DAHLONEGA, Ga. – After more than two decades of determined investigative work, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office has announced a successful resolution to the 2001 homicide of Herman Wilder, officially solving the long-standing cold case. The breakthrough, which combined the perseverance of local investigators with modern forensic science, has finally identified the person responsible and provided closure to the Wilder family.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard confirmed in a press release dated November 6 that Carroll Dean Burrell of Rabun County, now deceased, was responsible for Wilder’s death on May 25, 2001, at the Golden Hills Apartments in Dahlonega.
The original investigation collected crucial evidence at the scene, including a wooden stake believed to be the murder weapon. However, despite extensive efforts at the time, initial DNA profiling did not secure a match to a suspect. The case remained open until 2023, when investigators courageously reopened it. By submitting the retained DNA evidence for new evaluations and working in close partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and other local agencies, investigators achieved a dramatic breakthrough…