Nearly 27 years after a northwest Atlanta mother was found dead in her home, police say the man they have been looking for has finally surrendered. Investigators report that 51-year-old Janarra Sherrer walked into police custody on Monday, July 13, 2026. He is now charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and is being held in the Fulton County Jail.
The victim, 29-year-old Bridgett Lockhart, was found dead inside her Oakcliff Court home on July 31, 1999. Her two young children were in the residence at the time. The killing, which shook the northwest Atlanta neighborhood at the time, has lingered as a cold case for nearly three decades.
This summer, Atlanta homicide detectives pulled the dusty file from the shelf and put it back in the spotlight, publicly asking for help identifying a man they knew only as "Janarus" or "Janaris." Investigators say the 1999 slaying took place at a split-level house at 255 Oakcliff Court NW. Witnesses told detectives they believed the man they were seeking worked as a mechanic near Bankhead Highway, now Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. FOX 5 Atlanta covered the June press conference where officials renewed their call for leads.
On Monday, Atlanta police announced that Sherrer had turned himself in and confirmed the murder and firearm charges. According to WSB-TV, the department said Sherrer has a criminal history that includes cases involving child abandonment, battery, aggravated sexual battery and theft. He remains in the Fulton County Jail while detectives say they will continue to review older evidence and any fresh tips connected to the case.
In recent weeks, Lockhart's family has been back in front of cameras, reliving their loss as they begged the public for information. "As a child, I couldn't comprehend why she was gone or why our lives had changed forever," Lockhart's daughter, Elandra Loyal, told reporters when she joined detectives at a recent event appealing for leads. Loyal, who has worked as a DeKalb County police officer, said her family's search for answers is what pushed her into law enforcement, WSB-TV reported. Relatives said that any meaningful step forward in the investigation would bring long-awaited closure.
Police Still Pushing For Tips
Even with an arrest on the books, Atlanta Police are not ready to close the door on public input. Detectives have urged anyone who might remember a man called "Janarus" or "Janaris" or who recalls even a small detail from that summer of 1999 to speak up. Tips can be shared anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS or directly with APD.
Officers said during the June appeal that a single tip could be the missing piece, helping them connect old evidence to a living suspect or firm up potential new charges, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
What Happens Next
For now, Sherrer remains in Fulton County custody while the case moves into its next phase. Under local procedure, people who are arrested and do not bond out typically see a judge within about 24 hours. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office says its intake process includes fingerprinting, photographing and a warrants check, and that court dates are scheduled through the county court system.
Prosecutors have not yet said whether they plan to pursue additional charges or when an arraignment will be set. Atlanta Police have declined to share further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
