Wednesday's arrest of Michael Lee Curry for the gruesome ax murder of his pregnant wife Ann Curry and their children confirmed Bernice Johnson's premonitions.
Johnson, Ann Curry's 82-year-old mom, had a hunch for 24 years that her son-in-law killed her daughter and grandchildren.
"There's a sense of release, and a sadness also," Johnson said. "We have been suspicious of him from Day 1."
Columbus police on Wednesday charged Michael Lee Curry, 51, with the 1985 murders of his eight-month pregnant wife and their children Erika, 4 and Ryan, 1.
He also was charged with feticide. Their boy was going to be named Tyler Andrew. Curry is being held without bond at the Muscogee County jail in Columbus.
Authorities said the three had been hacked to death with a bush ax -- a sharp instrument used to chop down small trees and brush.
Tuesday, a Muscogee County Grand Jury indicted Curry on six counts of murder, two counts of feticide and three counts of aggravated assault stemming from the Aug. 29, 1985 Columbus murders.
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Julia Slater credited the Columbus Police, and in particular Chief Rickey Boren for bringing this decades-old cold case to a close.
"Chief Boren not only worked the case as a detective in 1985, but empowered Detective Randy Long to explore this cold case, discover new information, and prepare it for presentation to the Grand Jury," Slater said in a statement.
On the day of the murders, Michael Lee Curry, then 27, reportedly ran from the home screaming to one of his neighbors: "They killed my wife and kids."
Curry had to be handcuffed by police he was so distraught, witnesses said.
Inside the Curry home, police found Ann Curry and her son Ryan on the floor in the den. Daughter Erika was found dead on the kitchen floor.
Ann Curry died from cuts to the throat and head, and the children were killed by skull fractures from the ax, the Muscogee County coroner said at the time of the incident.
Erika, authorities said, was apparently trying to flee the house when she was killed.
For two decades, Ann Curry's parents, Bernice and James Johnson have led a crusade to learn what happened.
"We were never sure this day would happen," Bernice Johnson said Wednesday by phone.
She said her first thought at the news of the arrest was to thank God.
"Then the sadness for Ann and the children came," as Johnson and her husband began once again reliving the painful memories of the murders.
She said although they suspected Michael Lee Curry, there were others they thought could be responsible.
"Hopefully, after all these years, justice will finally prevail for Ann, and our grandchildren Erika, Ryan and Tyler," Johnson said.
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