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Description
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Serial Killer: Carl Millard Patton Jr.

Background

Carl Millard Patton Jr. (born 1949) was an American serial killer who committed five murders across Georgia from 1973 to 1977. His crimes remained unsolved for decades until advancements in DNA technology led to his arrest in 2003. Patton was subsequently convicted and sentenced to multiple life terms in prison.

Crimes and Victims

Patton's known victims include:
  • Richard Russell Jackson (March 9, 1973): Patton confessed to the murder of Richard Jackson, who was shot and killed in Henry County, Georgia. This crime was carried out at the behest of Marie Jackson Wyatt, Richard's wife, who allegedly paid Patton to kill her husband.
  • Fred Wyatt (November 12, 1977): Fred Wyatt, aged 45, was shot and killed in Clayton County, Georgia. Patton was hired by Wyatt's common-law wife, Marie Jackson Wyatt, who had taken out a life insurance policy on him.
  • Betty Jo Ephlin (November 12, 1977): On the same day as Fred Wyatt's murder, his roommate, Betty Jo Ephlin, also 45, was shot and killed. Patton and his accomplice, Joe Cleveland, were responsible for her death.
  • Joe Cleveland (December 17, 1977): Joe Cleveland, a firefighter and Patton's accomplice in previous murders, was shot and killed in DeKalb County, Georgia. Patton suspected Cleveland might reveal their crimes and decided to eliminate him.
  • Liddie Matthew Evans (December 17, 1977): Liddie Evans, 31, was also murdered on the same day as Joe Cleveland. She was shot and her body was disposed of in the Flint River.

Investigation and Arrest

The murders remained unsolved for over two decades. In 2003, advancements in DNA technology led to a breakthrough. Bloodstains found in Patton's car trunk in 1977 matched the DNA of victim Liddie Evans, leading to his arrest on February 23, 2003. During the investigation, Patton's wife, Norma, cooperated with authorities, providing crucial information about the murders. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (5)
  • Richard Russell Jackson Age: (41), Date of Death: 1973-03-09
  •     ...View 4 additional victims
    Killer's Details

    Carl Millard

    Patton

    1949 (age 75–76) Georgia, United States

    504 (162cm)

    Male

    White

    The Flint River Killer

    Murder (x5), Felony theft

    5

    1973 - 1977

    Georgia

    February 23, 2003

    Dodge State Prison (GDC ID: 0000416504) — Chester, Georgia

    07/03/2025