In the winter of 1993, a quiet community in Wayne, Georgia, was shaken by the tragic deaths of 15-year-old Michael Ralston and his mother. On January 8, the young man and his 37-year-old mother, Terry Ralston, were at their family-owned laundromat on Macon Street in Jesup when their lives took a horrific turn. A 17-year-old named Larry Jenkins, Jr.
abducted the mother and son, forcing them into their own van.
The terror for Michael and his mother continued as Jenkins drove them to a secluded, wooded area within Jesup. There, he ordered them out of the vehicle and into the woods. He made them lie face down on the ground before fatally shooting both of them with a. 22 magnum handgun. After committing the murders, Jenkins callously stole the Ralston's van and a significant amount of quarters from the laundromat.
Following the murders, Jenkins proceeded to live as if nothing had happened. He used the stolen van to pick up friends and traveled to a nightclub in Waycross, and then to a house in Alma for the night. The next day, he and his friends returned to Jesup and began cashing in the hundreds of dollars' worth of stolen quarters at various local businesses. Jenkins's escape was short-lived, as police soon spotted the stolen van in Jesup. Although he attempted to flee, he was apprehended. During his arrest, a chilling piece of evidence was found in his possession: Michael Ralston's learner's permit.
Larry Jenkins, Jr. was subsequently tried for the brutal crimes. In a four-day jury trial held in Glynn County Superior Court, he was found guilty on all charges. At the age of 49, he was convicted of two counts of Malice Murder, two counts of Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, one count of Armed Robbery, and one count of Theft by Taking for the cold-blooded murders of Michael and Terry Ralston.
