In the quiet city of Columbus, Mississippi, a chilling discovery was made on November 2, 1997. George Wilbanks, a 70-year-old man, was found brutally murdered in the sanctuary of his own north Columbus home. The well-known and gracious interior designer had been stabbed and strangled, a violent end to a life that had been characterized by creativity and kindness.
His violent death sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends and neighbors stunned and searching for answers as to who could commit such a heinous act against a man described as a 'fine fellow' without a known enemy.
For years, the case of George Wilbanks' murder grew cold, becoming one of a string of five unsolved homicides of senior citizens in the area between 1996 and 1998. All five victims were killed in a similar manner and lived within a three-mile radius of each other, casting a long shadow of fear and uncertainty over the community. Investigators diligently worked the case, but leads were elusive, and the mystery of who killed George Wilbanks and the other victims remained locked away. The passage of time did little to dull the memory of the crimes, and the cases would even draw the attention of the national news program '48 Hours.'
A breakthrough finally came in February 2012, nearly 15 years after the murder. The Columbus Police Department announced the arrest of 44-year-old Earnest Terell Talley, charging him with the murder of George Wilbanks. At the time of his arrest, Talley was already in custody on an unrelated burglary charge. Authorities indicated that Talley and Wilbanks had mutual acquaintances, and while a motive was known to them, they publicly stated that it appeared to be related to money and not drugs. Following Talley's arrest, a second suspect, Curtis Hinton, was also sought and eventually turned himself in to police in July 2012. He was charged with capital murder in connection with Wilbanks' death.
The legal proceedings for the two men took different paths. In August 2012, a grand jury did not find enough evidence to indict Curtis Hinton, and he was released from custody. Earnest Terell Talley's preliminary hearing was set, and his bond was established at $2 million. The arrest of Talley marked a significant development in a case that had haunted the city of Columbus for over a decade, offering a glimmer of hope for closure for the family and friends of George Wilbanks. The investigation into the other four unsolved murders of senior citizens from that era continued.
