In the fall of 2004, a horrific scene unfolded in a residence on Highway 37 in Moultrie, Georgia, forever altering the lives of several families. On November 8th, 30-year-old Liliana Alegria Aguilar, a Hispanic female, was found murdered alongside four other individuals in what was described as a brutal, execution-style slaying. The other victims were identified as Betty Faye Watts, 50; Katrina Darlene Watts “Tina” Resendez, 29; Juan Carlos Resendez, 3; and Jaime Cruz Resendez, 25. The discovery of the five victims sent shockwaves through the community and launched an extensive investigation into the shocking and violent crime.
Investigators determined that the motive behind the quintuple homicide was a drug-related debt owed by Jaime Resendez. The attack was a planned and ruthless act of violence. Evidence and testimony revealed that Liliana Alegria Aguilar, who was the housekeeper at the Resendez home, had been subjected to torture before her death. She was found with her hands and legs bound with a telephone cord and had been cut with a serrated blade. The house had been ransacked, presumably by the perpetrators in search of money. The cold-blooded nature of the crime was further underscored by the fact that Betty Faye Watts was shot in the head in a bathroom adjacent to where two of the other victims were discovered.
The investigation led to the identification and arrest of three suspects: Alexander Woods III, 34, of Valdosta, Johnny Jerry Thompson, and Wilma Yvonne Stover. Woods was identified as the primary triggerman in the massacre. Thompson, who had been involved in marijuana trafficking with Jaime Resendez, testified that he had sent Woods and another individual to the Resendez home to collect on the debt. The attackers were armed with a 9 mm pistol and an AK-47 rifle. The legal proceedings that followed were lengthy and complex. In November 2011, Johnny Jerry Thompson pleaded guilty to five counts of felony murder and was sentenced to life in prison. His testimony proved to be a crucial element in the cases against his co-defendants. In May 2013, Alexander Woods was convicted on all counts and received five consecutive life sentences for his role in the murders. The trial of Wilma Yvonne Stover faced multiple delays due to various complications, including issues with witnesses.
