Midtown Atlanta, Georgia — Four years after the brutal and still-unsolved murder of Katherine “Katie” Janness, authorities have increased the reward for information leading to an arrest from $10,000 to $25,000 in hopes of finally bringing justice to her and her family.
Janness, 40, was found stabbed to death inside Piedmont Park in the early morning hours of July 28, 2021. Her beloved dog, Bowie, was also killed at the scene. The gruesome nature of the crime stunned the city and left a lasting mark on the Midtown Atlanta community.
Surveillance footage captured Janness walking across the rainbow crosswalk at Juniper and 10th Street at 12:09 a.m., just blocks from her home. Roughly an hour later, her wife, Emma Clark, used a phone-tracking app to locate her after she didn’t return home. Clark found Janness’s body about 100 yards inside the park from the 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive entrance.
The scene was horrific. An autopsy revealed that Janness had been stabbed more than 50 times, and the letters “F-A-T” were carved into her torso, adding a chilling and disturbing element to the case. A necropsy was also performed on Bowie in hopes of recovering DNA from the killer, though the results have never been made public.
Investigators have continued to work the case, focusing on forensic evidence, including DNA. However, a critical setback emerged when it was discovered that cameras inside Piedmont Park were not recording the night of the murder due to outdated equipment, leaving a glaring gap in the timeline.
Emma Clark and the broader community have continued to fight for answers in the years since. The recent increase in the reward—now at $25,000—is a renewed plea to the public: if you know something, say something.
If you have any information related to the murder of Katherine Janness, please contact Atlanta Police or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can be made anonymously.
Justice delayed is not justice denied—help bring closure to this heartbreaking case.
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