An Augusta man facing capital murder charges in the disappearance and slaying of his stepdaughter in 2017 inched closer to trial Friday.
Leon Tripp, 43, has pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to charges filed in connection with the death of Latania Janell Carwell, who disappeared on April 17, 2017, her 16th birthday. The district attorney’s office filed notice of the intention to seek a death sentence if Tripp is convicted of murder.
Janell’s body was found buried behind what had been a vacant house on Golden Camp Road on March 8, 2018. She was identified by dental records.
Tripp and his wife, 40-year-old Tayna Tripp, were arrested together about a month after Janell’s disappearance. They were at a U-Haul facility in DeKalb County. Tayna Tripp is charged with murder in the second degree, concealing a death and hindering the apprehension. She has also pleaded not guilty.
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On Friday, Sept. 2, Tripp appeared for the hearing by video conferencing, which his defense team objected to. The attorneys on both sides announced they have worked on many of the defense motions and came to an agreement. Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig, who is assigned to the case, set aside several days in November for evidentiary hearings.
Tripp’s case has been delayed not only by the pandemic but also by changes in the defense lawyers with the Capital Defender’s Office, the statewide public defense office for all Georgia capital murder cases.
Tripp and his wife have been held in custody since their arrest May 23, 2017.
Tayna Tripp reported her husband and daughter missing on April 17, 2017. The public joined law enforcement in repeated searches for any signs of Janell. The Tripp family had been living on Tate Road, not far from where Janell’s remains were found.
Leon and Tayna Tripp married while he was still in prison, serving a Fulton County sentence for aggravated stalking, aggravated assault and theft. He was released in 2015 and moved in with Tayna Tripp, Janell and her younger sister.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
