Donnie Allen Hulett

Case record: Donnie Allen Hulett

Background

Donnie Allen “D.J.” Hulett was convicted murderer who was sentenced to death on April 29, 2004.

Hulett’s mother, Lynn Harrell, testified during the sentencing hearing. She said she smoked marijuana and cigarettes during her pregnancy with Hulett. She said her son would get mad if you did not turn the joint around and let him lick the paper. Donnie Hulett Sr. testified that it was a way of life in their neighborhood.

Donnie Hulett Sr. said he met Harrell at a “little beer store.” Both parents testified they fought and struggled in front of Hulett while he was growing up. The couple began raising their son with his parents, Hugh and Betty.

Harrell testified that she was not fond of her baby’s grandparents and said Hugh Hulett was supposed to be a preacher but sat around drinking every day. Donnie Hulett Sr. said his father was an educated man and that he was an alcoholic, and that he was an ordained minister who let alcohol take over his life. Hulett Sr. said his father would sometimes “go on a bender” when he would drink until he ran out of money or places to find liquor. Hulett Sr. said there were several times he had to be admitted to the hospital to “dry out.” Donnie Hulett Sr. said that despite their flaws, Donnie Hulett Jr. and his grandparents loved each other, and that they died a year apart from each other while he was about 12 years old.

Hulett Sr. testified that after that he started getting into trouble. He said he was concerned about his son’s cruelty to animals, arson, “huffing” gas, being a bully to smaller children, and getting marijuana from his friends. Hulett Sr. attributed the problems to Hulett Jr.’s way of dealing with his grandparents’ deaths and said, “He started getting into trouble,” and “I wasn’t real concerned at first. I figured he would straighten out.”

School officials began reporting that Hulett Jr. was skipping school at 12 years old, and once he ran away to live in a relative’s cabin for several days. That landed him in a youth detention center. Hulett Sr. said, “He seemed not to care any more,” and that “We’ve carried him to a psychiatrist sev-eral times.”

When Hulett Jr. was 14, Hulett Sr. said he swallowed his father’s blood pressure medicine after fighting with his current wife, Barbara “Cookie” Hulett.

Barbara Hulett described Hulett Jr.’s relationship with his mother as a “love-hate relation-ship,” and said he wanted to see his mother but she was not there for him.

Jerry Langston, Harrell’s fiance, said: “It seemed to be a normal relationship.”

Harrell testified that when Donnie Hulett Jr. was about 18 months old, she left him with a friend to leave town with a traveling carnival. Hulett Sr. took that opportunity to reclaim his son and said his mother did not see him again until he was 12 years old. Hulett Sr. said when he brought his 18-month-old son home, he only wanted to eat cold food out of cans and was able to open the cans by himself.

The offence

Hulett robbed, shot and beat Larry Phelps, 62, and Arvine Phelps, 69, on July 22, 2002.

The two brothers were clearing brush near the Mountain Top Boys Home, which served as a residence for teenagers who had been in juvenile court. Hulett then stole Larry Phelps’ pickup truck.

Walker County police identified Donnie Allen Hulett, 21, as the suspect in the case, and a manhunt was on for him as the Advocate went to press July 26.

The victims were described as retired teachers. Arvine Phelps taught mathematics at Dalton Junior College, and Larry Phelps was an elementary school teacher in Whitfield County. Both were described as being active in their churches and willing to extend a helping hand.

Following the murders, the Mountain Top residents were sent to their respective homes for about a week. Upon their return July 28, a memorial service was held at the home. Funeral services for both men took place on July 26 at their respective churches a few hours apart.

Investigation

Arrest

Hulett was arrested on Aug. 2, 2002 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Trial

Hulett was convicted last week for the shooting and bludgeoning death of Arvine Phelps, 69, and his brother Larry Phelps, 62, while they were clearing brush at the Mountain Top Boys Home in Villanow on July 22, 2002.

Sentencing

A Walker County Superior Court judge sentenced Donnie Allen “D.J.” Hulett to death on April 29, 2004.

Judge Jon “Bo” Wood read from his ruling: “The court fixes the sentence of death on both (murder) counts 1 and 2.”

Wood set Hulett’s execution between June 1 and June 8.

Lynn Harrell testified during the second day of a sentencing hearing. Relatives of the convicted murderer took the stand on Thursday during the second day of a sentencing hearing, and Hulett Jr. fought back his tears as he listened to his mother and father dig through their past filled with drugs, booze and constant moving around south Georgia.

Attorney Larry Hill, a LaFayette attorney representing Hulett, tearfully read a statement prepared by Hulett before Wood made his ruling:

“If I only had one wish, it would be for my life to be better than it was,” he said.
“Soon it will be time to end the life.
“My mother don’t want me. My dad don’t want me,” he said.
“The only people that have ever cared for me are either dead or can’t help me.”

Sue Phelps, widow of murder victim Arvine Phelps, said:

“It’s been predictable since probably the third grade,”
and: “The system didn’t do its job.”

Jerry Langston said:

“If they had put a hold on him, he would still be in jail, the Phelps brothers would be alive, and he wouldn’t be on death row,”
and: “It’s not that we want him in jail, but we sure didn’t want this.”

District Attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin said:

“There will be many appeals, I’m sure,”
and: “I’ve speculated that our grandchildren will be going to appeals.”

Judge Wood and prosecutors fixed the sentence of death on both murder counts 1 and 2.

Appeals

Franklin said he anticipated many appeals.

Outcome

Hulett was sentenced to death on April 29, 2004.

Aftermath

The United Methodist Men of the North Georgia Conference were providing labor for the construction of homes and a chapel at the Mountain Top Boys Home.

Burt Bridges described the slayings as “a tragedy in the first word.”

Bridges testified the murders involved two good people, retired and trying to do good work for mankind and to help the boys’ home do something good for troubled boys.

Rev. Steven Lyle, pastor of Dalton First, described Arvine Phelps’ relationship with church work:

“Arvine was just really committed to the Lord and the work of the church,”
and: “He loved helping folks, but he did it quietly and didn’t put the spotlight on himself. ... He left us in the midst of doing God's work, and to me that is a great testimony to Arvine.”

Rev. Randy Healan, pastor of Trinity, described Larry Phelps:

“He was always helping people.”

Tom Lowery, Dalton District president, and Joe Kilpatrick, conference president, said the commitment to the construction project remained unwavering. Kilpatrick said:

“I don’t think the men will be defeated, discouraged by this,”
and: “but they will respond with renewed dedication to honor the Phelps brothers ... by continuing their tradition of service.”

Kilpatrick said the slayings pointed to the need for services the home provides and that the murders might have been prevented had the perpetrator been helped as a child to overcome his problems, and said:

“This demonstrates why redemption is so necessary, why the church has such an important role to play. We hope that Mountain Top work and the work of redemption that goes on there will be in place for the new generation of boys.”

Kilpatrick said the home is operated by an independent board of directors but has received much United Methodists support.

The nearly 500 acres of heavily wooded land on which the facilities are located was owned by the Atlanta-Marietta District and rented the property to the home for a token amount each year.

The home could accommodate up to 12 boys in one dormitory who attended school on site and usually stayed there from nine to 12 months. Bridges said about 80 percent of the boys who were age eligible received their GEDs at the school.

Peachtree Road was involved at the home for 10 or 12 years since the church conducted its first Great Day of Service. Bridges said the church’s Abundant Heart Campaign raised a million dollars to give away in conjunction with a building program at the church, and the congregation gave $175,000 to the home to be matched by other gifts. Bridges said, “We have matched that money with grants and other funding,” which was being used to help build the two new homes and chapel. Bridges said the pews from the remodeled chapel at Peachtree Road would be used in the Mountain Top chapel.

The church provided seed money for the school and volunteer labor. Like Bridges, Peachtree member Alton Conway served on the board and was involved in construction work at the home. The church’s Boy Scouts camped out with the residents at the home and worked on projects there.

UMM planned to build a memorial to the slain brothers on the home’s grounds.

Other details

Burt Bridges described that the victims were clearing land for a second home at Mountain Top Boys Home, and that the United Methodist Men were providing labor for construction of two homes and a chapel at the home.

The victims were shot at point-blank range by a gunman who robbed them and stole Larry Phelps’ truck as the two men were clearing land at the Mountain Top Boys Home in Walker County.

Jerry Langston was described as being Lynn Harrell’s fiance and as Hulett’s mother’s fiance.

Hulett’s second child after having a daughter in a previous marriage was mentioned in connection with Harrell’s testimony.