Middle Georgia Cold Cases: Death on Dunbar

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Houston County sheriff’s investigators are looking for who killed a 32-year-old woman more than 40 years ago. 

“You just never know when you may get that information you need to move this case forward from 1974,” Capt. Jon Holland said. 

He has worked with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office since the early 80’s and he’s hoping to find a clue in that change. There’s one case that sits on his shelf, predating him, he’s determined to solve.

“After extensive work by the sheriff’s office in the 70’s, they were never able to identify a suspect to the point that they could bring criminal charges,” he said.

32-year-old Lilly Mae Richardson, a wife and mother, was shot dead one October night in 1974.

“Her husband reported that he had found her deceased on the carport, under the carport at the home leading into the residence,” Holland said.  

Investigating deputies found what looked to be burglary inside the home. 

“I’ve been told and looked at the case file and apparently she was pregnant at the time she was shot and killed,” he said. 

Deputies questioned Richardson’s husband and others looking for details in this shocking new discovery. They determined he wasn’t a suspect, leaving investigators back at square one in the seemingly peaceful neighborhood. 

“It was a very quiet area. It was a nice home off Dunbar Road. As I recall, looking back through the file, Mrs. Richardson actually worked for the Singer Company in Macon,” Holland said. 

The long-time captain says as the case continues to get passed on from investigator to investigator, it hasn’t been easy solving what happened to Lilly Mae. 

“Something in these cases, having experience and knowing people can lend itself to getting it resolved in some cases,” he said. 

Not to mention, police practices are more sophisticated now then they were then. 

“By the same token, people couldn’t communicate with each other as much, or hide things as well then, because of that same reason. So it’s kind of a two-way street there,” Holland said. 

Still, Holland has hope — that as the days and years pass, a hidden clue will uncover itself. 

“You may get that information. It may come tomorrow. It may come today,” he said. 

If you have any information on who killed Lilly Mae Richardson, call the Houston County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 542-2080.