In a tragic turn of events that unfolded in a shared home in Canton, Georgia, 65-year-old Thomas Richard “Doodle” Donaldson was found deceased, the victim of a fatal shooting. The incident, which also claimed the life of his 30-year-old niece, Carla Marie Payne, who was thirty weeks pregnant at the time, sent shockwaves through the community. The male victim’s life was cut short on March 23, 2021, a day that ended in a harrowing discovery for law enforcement.
The Cherokee County
man responsible for the deaths, Kristopher Martin Johnson, 34, was the boyfriend of Payne. Evidence presented during legal proceedings suggested that the motive behind the violent outburst was Payne's desire to end her relationship with Johnson. Following the shooting, Johnson fled the residence. He later contacted his mother and subsequently called 911 to report the crime. When officers arrived at the Canton home, they discovered the bodies of Donaldson and Payne in separate bedrooms. An autopsy would later confirm that both victims, as well as Payne's unborn child, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Johnson was arrested and faced charges for the murders. In February 2025, a judge found him guilty but mentally ill. This verdict ensures that he will receive mental health treatment while incarcerated. The court sentenced Johnson to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years. This sentence brought a close to a nearly four-year quest for justice for the families of Thomas Richard “Doodle” Donaldson and Carla Marie Payne.
