In the quiet community of Cataula, Georgia, on the evening of June 16, 2025, the life of 43-year-old Daniel Robert “Peanut” McCourt, Jr. was cut short. Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence on Green Ridge Road around 8 p.m. following a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered McCourt suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Despite any efforts to render aid, he was pronounced deceased at the scene by the county coroner. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist with processing the crime scene as an investigation into the altercation that led to the fatal shooting began.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of a suspect, 32-year-old Kristina Hodge. She was taken into custody in the immediate aftermath of the incident and booked into the Harris County Jail. Hodge faced a string of serious charges, including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. As the case moved through the initial stages of the legal process, authorities continued their forensic work to piece together the events that transpired on that fateful night.
While the initial arrest brought a sense of resolution for some, the legal proceedings that followed would ultimately tell a different story. Represented by the Law Office of J. Mark Shelnutt and William Kendrick, Kristina Hodge maintained her innocence. The case proceeded to trial, where the evidence and testimony were presented. In a significant development, the jury rendered its verdict in February of 2026, finding Kristina Hodge not guilty on all charges. Following the acquittal, she was released from custody and returned home, leaving the community to grapple with the tragic loss of Daniel McCourt and the unresolved questions surrounding his death.
