One year ago today, a north Fulton County community awoke to shocking news. Two teenagers had been found dead behind a grocery store, and the search was on for a cold-blooded killer.
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Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis, both 17, had left their homes in the early-morning hours to spend time together alone, investigators later determined. But neither would live to see their families or friends again or to start their senior year of high school. They were approached by a mentally ill man who would shoot them both before stealing from them and committing a bizarre string of crimes.
Jeffrey Hazelwood later confessed to the killings and was sentenced to life in prison without a trial. Here is a look back at the year since the murders:
Aug. 2, 2016: Autopsies determine both teenagers were shot in the head. Both teens had suffered severe head trauma, according to Roswell police. A delivery driver spotted their bodies on the ground by two vehicles.
Aug. 3, 2016: Suspect arrested in shooting deaths. Jeffrey Hazelwood, 20, was arrested at a local gas station. Roswell police Chief Rusty Grant said cellphone records from various phones were crucial in identifying Hazelwood as the suspect.
Aug. 4, 2016: Former classmates say Hazelwood didn't seem normal. In his own social media posts, Hazelwood posted both inspiring quotes and statements about his girlfriend, but also darker, deeper messages.
“Eventually, the most kind hearted person will grow cold," said a poster he placed on Instagram. "That's when you know they've been pushed too far."
Aug. 19, 2016: Horrific details emerge at hearing. The man accused of killing two Roswell teenagers said he watched the pair — even climbing to the top of the Publix in Roswell — before approaching them behind the store, a detective testified.
Aug. 20, 2016: Reconstructing the crimes. The accused killer told police how he killed Natalie and Carter, but didn't say why.
Sept. 9, 2016: SUV records help identify the suspect. By sorting through data on hundreds of vehicles in a two-county area, investigators identified the man believed responsible.
Oct. 31, 2016: Grand jury indicts Hazelwood on 15 counts. The charges included murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery, financial transaction card theft, identify fraud, theft by taking and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Nov. 10, 2016: Hazelwood pleads not guilty during his arraignment. Hazelwood appeared in court about three minutes, just long enough to enter his plea before being escorted out. His long, dark hair was down, and Hazelwood's appearance didn't appear to have changed since his last court appearance.
Dec. 15, 2016: Hazelwood tells a judge he wasn't getting his medications in jail. During a brief status hearing, Judge Shawn LaGrua asked double-murder suspect Hazelwood whether he is receiving his medications while in jail. "It is not happening," Hazelwood softly replied.
Jan. 13, 2017: Hazelwood again tells a judge he's not getting his medications. "I'm still not on the right medication, judge," Hazelwood said during a brief status hearing.
May 3, 2017: Doctor says Hazelwood is competent for trial, when medicated. A clinical psychologist told a courtroom that Hazelwood's current medications were helping him deal with his mental illness.
May 15, 2017: Judge rules Hazelwood is competent to stand trial. Hazelwood has suffered from extensive mental health issues from a young age, according to his attorneys and professionals who have treated him. Prior to the teenagers' deaths, Hazelwood had stopped taking his antipsychotic medications, he later told his doctor. But while medicated, he is competent, the judge rules.
May 17, 2017: Hazelwood pleads guilty but mentally ill to murder. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
July 20, 2017: Henderson family thanks Roswell police. It was a small way of offering a big "thank you" to the Roswell police department. The family of a teenager murdered behind a Publix grocery store treated officers to lunch Thursday, publicly thanking the detectives that solved the case. "Our family could not be more grateful," Rachael Henderson told the officers.
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