Ursula Dietz was a well-known and beloved member of her Columbus, Georgia, community. The 64-year-old White female was the owner of Bare Ware Pottery Studio, a popular local business she ran with a warm and engaging personality. She was also a cherished grandmother who, according to her family, was in utter shock over the events that would unfold in the fall of 2022.
On the afternoon of October 10, 2022, Columbus police officers were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at Ursula’s
home on Hilton Avenue. Upon entering the residence, they made a grim discovery. Ursula was found deceased in the foyer, and her 19-month-old granddaughter, Elenor Dietz, was found in her nursery crib. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 2:10 p.m.
The investigation quickly led police to a suspect living inside the home. Ursula’s 25-year-old son, Kevin Dietz, who was also Elenor’s uncle, was taken into custody for the double homicide that same day. According to testimony from a detective, Kevin lived in the basement of the house. Investigators found a gun on the kitchen table and collected shell casings at the scene.
Kevin Dietz was charged with two counts of murder and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. During a preliminary hearing in Recorder's Court on October 12, 2022, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. A judge ordered that he undergo a medical and mental health evaluation. The case was bound over to Muscogee County Superior Court, where bond would be set.
In April 2023, a longtime friend and patron of Ursula’s business, Louise Ramsey, took over ownership of the pottery studio to honor her friend’s memory and keep the family tradition alive. The business was renamed Bareware Pottery and Craft Studio. As of April 2023, the criminal case against Kevin Dietz was ongoing.
