In the quiet community of Sardis, Georgia, a day of unimaginable tragedy unfolded on Sunday, August 9, 2026, forever altering the lives of many. Betty “Tee” Holton Fort, a 52-year-old woman known for her giving and kind nature, was brutally killed in a violent rampage that claimed the lives of three other people, including her own daughter. A longtime resident of Sardis, Betty was described as a devoted mother and grandmother with a magnetic personality who loved life to the fullest.
The horrific events began to come to light when Burke County deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive person at a residence on Twin Lakes Drive. There, they discovered the bodies of a man and a woman. Later that evening, a welfare check at another home on Tom Bargeron Road led to the discovery of two more female victims. Betty Fort was one of the women found at the second location. The other victims of the killing spree were identified as Walter Bunch, 59, Rebecca Oglesby, 51, and Jessica Carroll, 31, who was Betty's daughter. Another individual, Andrew Putnam, was also injured in the string of attacks but survived.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a single suspect, Adolphus Christopher Morris. A manhunt ensued, and deputies soon located Morris's vehicle. He attempted to flee, leading police on a chase that ended when his car, disabled by stop sticks, crashed near Charles Perry Avenue and Girard Avenue in Sardis. Emerging from the wrecked vehicle, Morris opened fire on the deputies. The officers returned fire, and Morris was fatally shot at the scene. His grandmother, who was in the car with him during the pursuit, was unharmed. With the death of the sole suspect, the community was left to grapple with the senseless violence that had taken four lives. The case concluded with the death of the perpetrator, leaving behind a legacy of pain and loss for the families of Betty Fort and the other victims.
