Lauren Porter

Serial Killer

Lauren Porter: The Goose Pond Murderer

Background

Lauren Porter was a male serial killer who committed four known murders in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, between 1939 and 1947. Although his first name has sometimes caused confusion about his gender, Porter was a man. He was born in Oglethorpe, Georgia, in 1909 and reportedly lived in the area with his wife, Annie Sue Porter, and their children. Porter became known as the “Goose Pond Murderer” because several of the killings attributed to him were associated with the rural Goose Pond community of Oglethorpe County. His crimes occurred years apart, allowing him to remain unidentified while investigators treated the deaths as separate incidents. Porter used different firearms during the series and killed one victim by beating her to death.

The Beginning of the Murders

Porter’s known series began on July 10, 1939, with the murder of 30-year-old Mary Agnes Tiller. Tiller was beaten to death in Oglethorpe County. The surviving historical record contains few details about the circumstances surrounding her death, but investigators later connected Porter to the killing after weapons and other evidence were discovered following his arrest. Less than three months later, another resident of the area was killed. On October 8, 1939, 60-year-old Earl F. Poole was shot to death. The two murders involved different methods, and authorities did not initially identify Porter as a suspect in either case. He remained free and continued living in the community.

The 1943 Attack on William Patrick

In August 1943, Porter attacked 48-year-old William Patrick. Patrick survived, making him the only publicly identified survivor associated with Porter’s known crime series. Available historical accounts provide limited information about the attack, including the precise date, location and circumstances. The unsuccessful attack did not immediately expose Porter as the person responsible for the earlier Goose Pond murders. He remained at large and committed another known homicide the following year.

The Murder of Lewis H. Brooks

On August 26, 1944, 33-year-old Lewis H. Brooks was shot and killed in Oglethorpe County. Brooks became Porter’s third confirmed murder victim. As with the previous deaths, the case was not immediately connected to a broader pattern of killings. Porter’s ability to avoid detection was aided by the long intervals between the crimes. Nearly five years separated the murders of Poole and Brooks, while more than two additional years passed before Porter committed the killing that ultimately led to his arrest.

The Murder of William Roderic Cofer

Porter’s final known victim was William Roderic Cofer, a prominent 68- or 69-year-old resident of Oglethorpe County. On January 26, 1947, Porter shot Cofer during a robbery. Some historical records list Cofer as 68, while later summaries describe him as 69. The Cofer murder generated an immediate investigation. Porter was arrested on the day of the killing or shortly afterward. When authorities searched his residence, they reportedly recovered several handguns and shotguns. Investigators determined that the collection included the weapons used in the murders of Earl Poole, Lewis Brooks and William Cofer. Evidence also connected Porter to the earlier killing of Mary Agnes Tiller. The discoveries transformed what had initially appeared to be an isolated murder and robbery into the solution of a series of killings extending back nearly eight years. Porter was identified as the perpetrator of the four deaths remembered collectively as the Goose Pond murders.

Confirmed Victims and Survivor

• Mary Agnes Tiller, 30 — Beaten to death on July 10, 1939, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. She was Porter’s earliest confirmed victim.
• Earl F. Poole, 60 — Shot to death on October 8, 1939, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• William Patrick, 48 — Attacked in August 1943 in Georgia but survived. The exact date and circumstances are not consistently documented.
• Lewis H. Brooks, 33 — Shot to death on August 26, 1944, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• William Roderic Cofer, approximately 68 or 69 — Shot and killed during a robbery on January 26, 1947, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His murder led directly to Porter’s arrest.

Investigation and Prosecution

Although investigators attributed four murders to Porter, he was prosecuted primarily for the robbery and murder of William Roderic Cofer. The physical evidence recovered from Porter’s home was central to the case. The presence of multiple weapons associated with the separate killings gave authorities the means to connect crimes that had remained unresolved for years. Porter was charged with capital murder and robbery in Oglethorpe County. He was convicted of killing Cofer and sentenced to death. The prosecution and execution occurred rapidly by modern standards, with only about three months passing between the January 1947 murder and Porter’s death.

Execution

Lauren Porter was executed in Georgia’s electric chair on April 25, 1947. He was approximately 38 years old. The execution took place at the Georgia State Penitentiary in Reidsville, located in Tattnall County. Porter was executed for the murder and robbery of William Roderic Cofer, but authorities regarded him as responsible for the earlier Goose Pond killings. His arrest closed four homicide cases dating from July 1939 through January 1947.

Legacy of the Goose Pond Murders

The Lauren Porter case remains an obscure chapter in Georgia criminal history. Contemporary documentation is limited, and many details about the victims, motives and individual crime scenes have not survived in readily available records. What is established is that Porter killed four people over a period of nearly eight years and attacked at least one additional person who survived. The case also illustrates the investigative difficulties faced by rural law-enforcement agencies during the 1930s and 1940s. Before centralized records, modern ballistics databases and rapid communication between jurisdictions, murders involving different methods and separated by several years could remain unconnected. Porter was exposed only after his final killing led investigators to his home and the collection of weapons that tied him to the earlier deaths.

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Mary Agnes Tiller Age: (30), Date of Death: July 10, 1939

Earl F. Poole Age: (60), Date of Death: October 8, 1939

Lewis H. Brooks Age: (33), Date of Death: August 26, 1944

William Roderic Cofer Age: (69), Date of Death: January 26, 1947

Survivors:

William Patrick Age: (48), Date of Attack: August 1943

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Lauren Porter (1909-1947) - Mémorial Find a Grave