Alabama Man Arrested & Charged with Murder after 24 Years in Julie Ann McDonald Cold Case

Walker County, GA (August 30, 2024) - The GBI and the Walker County Sheriff's Office announce the arrest of Clarence George, age 63, of Alabama, in the murder investigation of Julie Ann McDonald. After 24 years, GBI agents have charged George with murder and aggravated assault in connection with McDonald's death. On Thursday, August 22, 2024, at about 11:30 a.m., the U.S. Marshals Service arrested George in Birmingham, Alabama.

On Sunday, June 11, 2000, the body of Julie McDonald was discovered in her home on Arnold Lane in Lafayette, Georgia. The Walker County Sheriff's Office asked the GBI to assist in the murder investigation. Both agencies worked diligently to solve the case but were unable to at that time.

Between 2015-2016, the case was reviewed by a Walker County detective and a GBI Special Agent, who both made tremendous progress in the case. Investigators resubmitted evidence for testing, but the tests were unable to identify a suspect at that time.

Between 2023-2024, a Walker County Lieutenant and a GBI Special Agent again reexamined the case and retested evidence in the investigation. The efforts of the detectives and GBI agents led to the murder and aggravated assault charges on George.

George was taken to the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham, Alabama where he is awaiting extradition back to Georgia for these charges.