The Crime That Time Tried to Bury
October 9, 1983. A brutal, racially-charged killing in Griffin, Georgia, left a young Black man—Timothy Coggins—dead beneath an oak tree known locally, and ominously, as the Hanging Tree.
He was just 23 years old.
His body bore the marks of deep hatred: stab wounds, carvings resembling Confederate symbols, and signs that he had been dragged behind a vehicle. But the case would go cold just two weeks later. No justice. No charges. Just silence.
It would take 34 years, the evolution of DNA technology, and the fierce determination of a woman who hadn’t even been born yet when Coggins was murdered to bring the killers to justice.
The Last Night of Timothy Coggins’ Life
Timothy was outgoing, well-known in his community, and full of promise. That night, he was seen dancing with a white woman, Ruth Guy, at the People’s Choice bar—a move that, in 1983 Georgia, was enough to incite violent rage.
It was no secret who was furious about it: Frank Gebhardt, Ruth’s abusive, racist boyfriend, and his in-law, William Moore Sr. Hours later, Timothy was dead.
No arrests. No answers.
Until a new sheriff, a fresh generation of law enforcement, and a relentless young prosecutor changed everything.
The Prosecutor Who Refused to Let the Past Stay Buried
Marie Greene Broder wasn’t born when Coggins was killed. But when the cold case was reopened in 2017, she dove headfirst into it. Then an assistant district attorney, Broder approached the case with both intellectual clarity and emotional gravity.
“This wasn’t just about solving a murder,” Broder said. “This was about correcting history.”
The deeper she dug, the darker the story became.
A Town’s Legacy of Racism—and a Shocking Discovery
Sheriff Darrell Dix had launched an internal review of cold cases and assigned a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent to look into the long-forgotten murder. That’s when whispers of KKK involvement and law enforcement cover-up surfaced.
Broder and her team unearthed an informant’s notebook, detailing infiltration of the Klan by a former deputy. The notes suggested local authorities deliberately buried the case.
“I believe they knew who did it all along,” Broder later said.
The Well of Secrets
When investigators searched Gebhardt’s rural property, they found a decades-old well—full of trash. Beneath the burned debris? A rusted knife, a slashed T-shirt, and sneakers matching those Coggins wore the night he died.
No usable DNA remained. But the circumstantial evidence—and the sheer volume of confessions—was overwhelming.
The Murderer Who Couldn’t Stay Silent
Gebhardt’s downfall wasn’t just what he did—it was what he bragged about.
Over 30 years, he told dozens of people—fellow inmates, friends, even strangers—that he had “got rid of that n****r.” His grotesque pride became the state’s most damning evidence.
“This wasn’t a secret he held,” Broder said. “He was proud. That’s what made it even more sickening.”
The Trial That Finally Delivered Justice
In 2018, Broder stood before a jury to try a case that was older than she was. The evidence was mostly testimonial. The witnesses included convicted felons and white supremacists. But the strategy worked.
After days of emotional testimony, the jury returned with a verdict: Guilty. Frank Gebhardt was sentenced to life plus 30 years. William Moore Sr., his accomplice, pled guilty and received 20 years.
A Family’s Grief, a Community’s Reckoning
Timothy’s family had waited decades. In that time, they hadn’t even placed a headstone—fearing it would be vandalized by his killers.
But after the trial, they finally stood tall.
His niece, Heather Coggins, has since opened a thriving business in Griffin—a place that still battles the shadows of its past, but now has a beacon of resilience at its center.
“They tried to silence my uncle,” Heather said. “But in the end, he was heard.”
Griffin Today: A Town in Transition
Griffin remains a complex place. Racism hasn’t vanished, but there’s movement. Conversations are happening. People are listening.
Marie Broder is now the District Attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit—the same place that once ignored Timothy Coggins’ murder.
And she carries his story with her every day.
“Justice doesn’t expire. Not for Timothy. Not for any victim.”
FAQs: Timothy Coggins Murder Case
Who was Timothy Coggins?
A 23-year-old Black man murdered in Griffin, GA in 1983 for dancing with a white woman. His case went cold for 34 years.
What happened in the investigation?
The case was reopened in 2017. Two white men—Frank Gebhardt and William Moore Sr.—were arrested. Gebhardt was later sentenced to life plus 30 years.
Who is Marie Broder?
She was the lead prosecutor on the case, despite being born years after the murder. She now serves as District Attorney.
Was law enforcement involved in the cover-up?
There is strong evidence of KKK infiltration and law enforcement neglect, including lost files and delayed investigations.
What happened to the family?
They finally placed a headstone after the trial and continue to honor Timothy’s memory through activism and community work.