After nearly four decades, justice seeks to redeem its delay with the conviction of a woman for the murder of her young daughter, a case that had grown cold in the annals of Georgia's unsolved crimes. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), a Dougherty County jury found Evelyn Odom, 56, guilty of the 1988 murder of 5-year-old Kenyatta "KeKe" Odom, who had for years been known only as Ware County's Baby Jane Doe. Evelyn Odom, also known as Zmecca Luciana, faced charges including Felony Murder and First Degree Cruelty to Children.
In a major breakthrough of this heart-wrenching saga, the verdict came on August 27, nearly 37 years since the child's remains were discovered encased in concrete in a wooded area in Ware County. Despite initial efforts that spanned states and enlisted various forensic testing, it was not until genome sequencing and a tip from the public followed to reveal the child's identity and unravel the tragic tale. Ulyster Sanders, Odom's boyfriend at the time of the murder, has already pled guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing.
The GBI's exhaustive investigation involved multiple partners, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Othram Inc, aided along by a diligent $5,000 reward offered by an anonymous donor. This collaborative pursuit of truth culminated in the jury's decision following the presentation of the facts by Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards' team, who prepared extensively for the trial and consulted with the GBI and Ware County Sheriff’s Office among others.
The long path to justice for Kenyatta Odom exemplifies a commitment to unravel crimes that have long remained unsolved. On November 9, 2023, law enforcement arrested Evelyn Odom and Ulyster Sanders without incident, setting into motion the final stages of a legal process long-awaited. According to the GBI's announcement, agents were to be sure to continue their investigation and submit the case file to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for the follow-through of prosecution efforts.
The tragic tale of KeKe's untimely death and the subsequent quest for answers highlights the tenacity of the agents and their unwavering pursuit, which, across decades, eventually led to justice being served. Watch the full news conference detailing the case and its conclusion on YouTube, with the GBI expressing due thanks to all those who assisted in the journey of identifying and prosecuting the individuals responsible for this unconscionable act.
