Rockdale County deputies are searching for a 41-year-old woman accused of threatening multiple people with harm, and investigators say she has reportedly been seen in and around neighboring Newton County. Michelle Kimbel is wanted in connection with a Rockdale County investigation into alleged threats against several victims, according to deputies.
The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office released a Be On The Lookout alert, tracked under BOLO notice number 2692391, describing Kimbel as a Black female born November 14, 1984, with black hair, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds, according to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office. Kimbel is wanted in Rockdale County in connection with an investigation involving alleged threats against multiple people, as reported by WSB-TV.
Officials have not released additional details about the nature of the alleged threats, per the same account. The sheriff's office is urging anyone with knowledge of Kimbel's whereabouts to contact authorities immediately, and Rockdale County Investigator D. Turner can be reached at 770-278-8166 or by email at [email protected].
Why Newton County Is in the Mix
The fact that Kimbel has reportedly turned up near Newton County isn't a surprise given the geography involved. Rockdale County borders Newton County, and Georgia Highway 20 runs through Rockdale County, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. That shared corridor east of Atlanta means a suspect can slip from one county's jurisdiction into another within minutes.
Rockdale County covers just 129.8 square miles, making it the second-smallest county by land area in Georgia out of 159 counties, with a population density exceeding 750 residents per square mile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That compact footprint, paired with an estimated 2025 population of 98,400 residents and 11.3% growth over the prior decade per USAFacts, has put added strain on public safety resources in the outer ring of metro Atlanta. Neighboring Newton County, by comparison, grew to an estimated 125,583 residents in 2025, an 11.6% increase since the 2020 Census, per the Census Bureau.
Multi-Agency Cooperation Along the Corridor
Multi-Agency Cooperation Along the Corridor
What Charges Could Follow
Under Georgia Code § 16-11-37, making terroristic threats is generally a misdemeanor, but the charge elevates to a felony carrying one to five years in prison if the threat suggests the targeted individual's death, according to FindLaw. Georgia law defines a terroristic threat as communicating an intent to commit a violent crime with the purpose of terrorizing another person. Prosecutors in cases like this also sometimes consider additional charges.
It remains unclear whether Kimbel has been formally charged or whether a magistrate judge has signed warrants in the case. The alleged relationship between Kimbel and the people she is accused of threatening has not been disclosed.
Part of a Busier Season for Threat Investigations
Part of Other Threat-Related Activity
