Crime & Justice
Beloved Georgia bookstore owner reportedly killed by employee
Atkins, a 42-year-old mother of two and the owner of Birdsong Books in Henry County, was discovered by a fisherman in Cedar Creek in Putnam County around 1:15 p.m. on Monday.

Erica Atkins, a beloved owner of a popular Georgia bookstore, was reportedly kidnapped and killed — and one of her employees, a former boyfriend, has been accused of the crime.
Georgia bookstore owner Erica Atkins was kidnapped then killed
Atkins, a 42-year-old mother of two and the owner of Birdsong Books in Locust, GA, was discovered by a fisherman in Cedar Creek in Putnam County around 1:15 p.m. on Monday the Henry County Sheriff’s Office told 11Alive.
Atkins had been reported missing on Sunday (March 5) and was found about an hour’s drive from the bookstore. Police said they believe she was killed in Henry County and that her body was then dumped in nearby Putnam County.
An employee of her bookstore, Romero Johnson, 38, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and murdering Atkins, police said.
Atkins and Johnson had reportedly dated before she broke it off, the father of her youngest child told Fox 5 Atlanta.
The community is in shock of the murder of the beloved entrepreneur
The victim’s daughter, Jasmine Atkins, said the family was devastated. “We’re hurting. She kept everyone together,” she told the 11Alive.
A makeshift memorial stands erect in front of Atkins bookstore.
“I still have a sick feeling in my stomach, in my head. I just keep thinking about her,” Atkins’ friend Shanna Amoah told 11Alive.
“It just floored me. Basically, it floored me beyond measure. I was just completely devastated,” Amoah said.
Amoah said that Atkins was a beloved “pillar” of the community and had recently won a Small Business of the Year award from the local chamber of commerce.
“Erica was a busy woman. She was committed to helping her community. She donated books – donated her time. In fact, she came last year to my summer camp and read to my kids – donated her time there,” Amoah said.
----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
-
News6 days ago
South Carolina veteran dies on his birthday while saving 13-year-old boy from drowning
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks ago
Twin brothers miss their flight to Boston, later found dead in Georgia mountains
-
Black And Missing6 days ago
Update: The body of missing Ohio 13-year-old has been found; her father charged for her murder
-
Health & Wellness2 weeks ago
21-year-old man becomes first in New York to be cured of sickle cell anemia
-
Education6 days ago
Teacher ordered to remove inclusive signs from classroom; GoFundMe raises more than $15k
-
In Memoriam3 days ago
Brothers from New Jersey killed in Philadelphia highway crash
-
Culture4 weeks ago
Black Altadena family spanning generations lost 20 homes in Los Angeles wildfires
-
Black And Missing3 weeks ago
Body of missing Georgia teacher found in lake