She was an avid reader who collected books. She had taught herself to play the guitar and had recently ventured into singing songs she wrote. And Katherine Janness, or Katie as she was known, was planning a future with the love of her life.
Janness and her girlfriend, Emma Clark, had been together for seven years and considered themselves married. Clark’s father, Joe Clark, said the women knew they didn’t need a legal document to prove their love.
“They would’ve been together forever,” Joe Clark told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They were that couple.”
But early Wednesday, that love story came to a tragic end.
When Janness and the couple’s dog, Bowie, didn’t return from a walk in Piedmont Park, Emma Clark used a cellphone app to track her. Clark could see Janness was in the park, but the tracking device wasn’t moving. After a short walk from the couple’s home, Clark found both Bowie and Janness dead, about 100 feet apart, Clark’s father said. Janness, 40, had been stabbed multiple times.
Credit: Family photo
Credit: Family photo
Atlanta investigators began their work in the early morning hours Wednesday and later announced plans to increase patrols in and around the park. On Thursday, mounted patrol officers were among those in the area.
An FBI spokesman said the agency is assisting Atlanta police with the investigation.
On Thursday, the department renewed calls for the public to submit tips and help solve the case, and a $10,000 reward was being offered through Crime Stoppers Atlanta. But no information was released on a possible suspect in the killing, described as “gruesome” by Joe Clark.
“It was a very violent end for her,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind, she did not go down without a fight.”
While detectives continued the investigation, those closest to Janness struggled to make sense of her death. Joe Clark said his daughter isn’t ready to talk publicly about her ordeal, but she has shared those details with family and investigators. He provided the AJC with information about the final evening Janness was alive.
A longtime resident of the area, Janness often walked at the park while listening to podcasts. Emma Clark had wanted her girlfriend to carry pepper spray when she walked, but Janness said she felt safe. She worked as a bartender at Campagnolo, an Italian restaurant and bar on Piedmont Avenue, and also at Whole World Improv Theatre on Spring Street.
Late Tuesday, Janness had stopped by Henry’s Midtown Tavern, where Clark was working. After Janness and Bowie walked, they planned to return to meet Clark and walk home together. But when Clark was ready to head home, Janness didn’t answer her phone. And she wasn’t at home.
After finding the two at Piedmont Park, Clark called 911 and her brother, who called her father. Joe Clark, a Fayetteville city councilman, drove immediately to Atlanta, a place he had previously called home for many years, he said.
In a social media post shared on a GoFundMe page, Emma Clark thanked those who had reached out following the deaths of Janness and Bowie.
“She was the most intelligent, kind, humble and beautiful person I have ever known,” Clark wrote. “I wanted to spend every second with her. He was the sweetest, most loyal companion. My heart is so very broken, my world will never be the same.”
Joe Clark said his family is grateful for the efforts of Atlanta police in trying to find the person responsible. Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore said residents remain on edge as violence continues in the city. Moore said her constituents are on heightened alert when they hear stories of those being targeted while going about their everyday routines.
“Of course, that puts people on edge and should have people more vigilant and watching their surroundings,” said Moore, who is running for mayor. “They’re not sure if they’re going to be next or if someone that they love will be next.”
A vigil was planned for Thursday evening at Piedmont Park. A similar event was being planned for Sunday evening.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit the Crime Stoppers website.
— Staff writer Shaddi Abusaid contributed to this article.
About the Author
