On a quiet December night in 2000, the Wingate Inn in Cobb County, Georgia, became the site of a senseless and tragic murder. Two masked robbers stormed the hotel lobby. One leaped the front desk and, with a single gunshot, ended the life of Rodney Castlin, a hardworking night manager, husband, and father.
For the robbers, it was a $304 score. For the Castlin family, it was a devastating loss. Kelley Castlin, Rodney’s wife, was eight months pregnant at the time. The couple had a young son together, and Rodney also had two children from a previous relationship. But in the chaos, the killers made one mistake—they left behind a fingerprint.
That single piece of evidence would sit in silence for years, until one detective made it speak again.
A Promise Made in Blood
Just hours after the murder, forensic investigator John Dawes stood face-to-face with Kelley Castlin. In that moment of grief and uncertainty, he made a vow: “I’ll find who did this.”
It was a promise that would follow him for 16 years, through cold leads, dead ends, and moments of doubt. The fingerprint left at the scene had been run through AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) multiple times, but with no match, the case grew cold.
Even so, Dawes never let go. He carried that fingerprint—and that promise—with him into his future as a homicide detective.
A Lead Resurfaces
Then in 2012, the case came back to life. A federal inmate claimed to know about a hotel robbery near Atlanta. Though the tip was vague, it sparked a fire in Dawes. He decided to run the print through AFIS again—and this time, it hit.
The print matched James Lorenzo Randolph, who had been arrested just weeks after Rodney’s murder for a separate armed robbery in Columbia, South Carolina. Even more chilling? He had used a small-caliber black revolver, just like the one used to kill Castlin.
Now, Dawes knew he had something real.
Building the Case Brick by Brick
While the fingerprint was a breakthrough, it wasn’t enough for conviction. Dawes needed to connect the dots. The key was the getaway driver—now serving time on unrelated federal charges.
Dawes tracked him down and convinced him to cooperate. In return for his immunity from state charges, the driver agreed to testify. His story matched the crime scene in chilling detail—details only someone there could have known.
For Dawes, this was the moment the puzzle finally began to fit together.
The Arrest That Fulfilled a Promise
On October 6, 2014, Dawes traveled to Columbia. There, Randolph was arrested and charged with the murder of Rodney Castlin. That arrest was more than a professional victory—it was personal.
The first call Dawes made wasn’t to his colleagues—it was to Kelley Castlin. After 16 long years, he had kept his word.
Courtroom Justice
At trial, the evidence was overwhelming. The matching fingerprint, the same murder weapon, the driver’s testimony—all pointed to Randolph. The jury had no doubt.
Randolph was sentenced to three life terms plus 35 years. It was a sentence meant to ensure he would never harm another family again.
A Hollow Apology
Before sentencing, Randolph addressed the Castlin family. “I apologize that they lost a loved one. I’m sorry, man,” he said, referencing his own past losses.
But for Dawes, who sat in the courtroom, those words rang hollow. “The man doesn’t know remorse,” he later said. “Those words were very shallow.”
Hope for Other Cold Cases
The Rodney Castlin murder case became more than just a solved crime. It became a symbol of hope for families still waiting for answers.
“Families hear about a case like this,” Dawes explained, “and they think, ‘They didn’t forget. Maybe someone’s still working on mine.’”
For the Castlin family, the verdict brought long-awaited closure. And for Dawes, that December promise finally reached its end.
FAQs
Who was Rodney Castlin?
Rodney Castlin was a night manager at the Wingate Inn in Georgia, a dedicated husband and father, tragically murdered during a robbery in 2000.
How long did it take to solve the case?
It took 16 years from the time of the murder to the arrest of the killer.
What led to the arrest of James Lorenzo Randolph?
A re-run of a fingerprint through AFIS in 2012 matched Randolph. Additional evidence and witness testimony solidified the case.
Why wasn’t the case solved sooner?
Although a fingerprint was left behind, it did not match anyone in the system at the time. It took years before Randolph’s print was available for comparison.
Did the killer show remorse?
Randolph made a brief apology in court, but investigators and the Castlin family found it unconvincing and insincere.
What sentence did Randolph receive?
He was given three life sentences plus 35 years, ensuring he remains behind bars.