Takeyia Guthridge

Case record: Takeyia Guthridge

Background

Takeyia Guthridge was accused and convicted of killing her mother, Deloise “Dee” Adu, 44. Deloise Adu was stabbed to death in front of her stepbrother, Frank Adu. Guthridge’s stepbrother, Frank Adu, fled to a neighbor’s house after witnessing the stabbing.

Guthridge was described as having a “chilling lack of remorse” by Judge Matthew Simmons at sentencing. Prosecutors said Guthridge was angry because her mother had her evicted earlier that day from the family home.

The offence

Guthridge was convicted of killing Deloise “Dee” Adu, 44.

The stabbing occurred during an argument at their home on Carnes Estates Drive in Jonesboro. Police found Adu inside the family home stabbed multiple times. Police described the stabbing as the culmination of an argument sparked by Adu wanting to move Guthridge out of the house.

According to a warrant sworn out by Clayton County Police Detective J. Harris, Adu was stabbed “approximately seven (7) times in the chest, shoulders, head and arm with a kitchen knife.” Adu was taken to Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, where she was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m.

During the days leading up to the stabbing, witnesses testified that Guthridge repeated, “I’ll be happy when you’re dead” and “I wish you were dead.”

Guthridge’s stepbrother Frank Adu testified that the two women argued over money and that Guthridge had asked her mother for gas money. Frank Adu testified that Deloise Adu accused Guthridge of being a lying, ungrateful daughter and criticized her for not having a job and refusing to help out around the house.

When Guthridge took the stand during her trial, she testified that she took a nap and found her mother dead when she woke up. Guthridge also testified that she fell asleep with her sister, Jessica, stepbrother Frank Adu, her mother and uncle all in the house. She testified:

“I walked out of my room, went downstairs and saw her body lounged on the couch.
I didn’t want anyone pointing fingers at me because we’d just come from court.”

Guthridge denied killing Deloise Adu. In court, Guthridge testified:

“I didn’t have a problem leaving my mother’s house at all.”

The state presented testimony about the mechanism and location of the wounds. Medical examiner Steven Atkinson of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified photos of Deloise Adu in death and discussed the wounds she suffered. Atkinson testified that the two fatal stab wounds were ones that cut Deloise Adu’s heart, in the aorta and right ventricle. Atkinson said:

“Those would have caused extensive bleeding.
Death would occur within minutes.”

Atkinson also testified that Deloise Adu suffered wounds to both arms, her face and head, and that:

“The wound above her left eye on her forehead was where the knife went into her scalp, embedded and the tip broke off.”

Atkinson said:

“It would take a large amount of force to embed into the skull, which is very firm bone.”

Atkinson further testified:

“They would be consistent with her being seated and her attacker standing over her.”

Investigation

Clayton County police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at Guthridge’s home on Carnes Estates Drive in Jonesboro. Police found Guthridge’s biological mother, Delouise Rivers Adu, stabbed multiple times.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for next Tuesday after Guthridge was held in the Clayton County Jail.

During the trial proceedings, questions arose about potential hearsay testimony. Prosecutor Jason Green said witnesses could testify that Deloise Adu was scared of Guthridge in the days leading up to her death. Green said:

“She expressed concern to her stepson less than a week before this happened.” and “And a neighbor also remembers two days before this happened that the victim expressed that Guthridge said she wished her mother was dead.”

Defense attorney Alfonso Kraft argued that the statements constituted “double hearsay.” Kraft said:

“Some of the actual facts contradict what witnesses will say about the victim’s concerns about my client,” and “Yes, she changed the locks but she let her into the home. I think there’s a question about their reliability but without knowing exactly what they plan to say, I just don’t know. It’s hard to determine how unreliable they are.”

Judge Matthew Simmons said he would have to hear the testimony before ruling on hearsay.

Arrest

Guthridge was arrested last year in the death of Deloise Adu and was held in the Clayton County Jail. Bond was denied on June 12, 2012 for Guthridge after Clayton County Police responded to the domestic dispute report.

Trial

Jury selection and trial progress

A jury was seated late Monday afternoon for Guthridge’s trial, with a jury of 10 women and two men, plus a male alternate. Within minutes, a female juror told Judge Matthew Simmons she was the sole caregiver for her mother, 75, and wondered about being seated for a lengthy trial. After briefly questioning her, Simmons stated he was confident she would be able to leave her mother for two to three days. Prosecutor Jason Green said his case would likely wrap up by lunchtime Wednesday. Defense attorney Alfonso Kraft said he would have one witness at the most.

Evidence presented and witness testimony

Frank Adu returned to Clayton County from Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he was a Marine, to testify.

Frank Adu testified that he heard his stepmother screaming for help from the dining room and that he was watching television in the living room when he heard her. Frank Adu demonstrated Guthridge’s alleged actions on Green while seated in the witness chair. Adu put one knee on Green’s lower body and held Green’s upper body with his left arm while pretending to stab him with his right arm. Frank Adu said:

“She was mad and swung at me while also trying to get back to Mom to stab her again,” and “I grabbed her hand with the knife and we were both struggling. She wouldn’t let go and the knife broke. I heard my mom tell me to get help, to call 911.”

Adu testified that he ended up with the blade in his hand while Guthridge had the handle, and that he ran with the knife blade in his hand to a neighbor’s house. Adu also testified:

“Adu said the two women argued over money. Guthridge had asked her mother for gas money so Deloise Adu asked Frank Adu to bring her purse, he testified.”

Adu testified that Deloise Adu railed against Guthridge and that Adu testified:

“Takeyia asked her if she was going to give her the money and Mom finally said no because Takeyia was ungrateful,” and “Takeyia said Mom never helped her and Mom was telling her how often she’d helped her over the years.”

Judge Matthew Simmons later referenced Guthridge’s 911 call and said she was “completely dispassionate.” Simmons quoted from the call in describing her tone:

“There was no difference in her tone of voice than someone reporting an abandoned car at the end of the street. The operator asked her if her mother was breathing, could she tell if she was breathing? Did she want to try CPR? She just said, ‘Nope, I don’t wanna do CPR.’”

Guthridge’s testimony and defense position

Guthridge took the stand Wednesday morning and denied killing Deloise Adu. She testified that her relationship with Deloise Adu was fine, despite Adu evicting Guthridge from the family home on Carnes Estates Drive in Jonesboro. Guthridge said: and:

“I went to my bedroom to look up shelters, I knew I had seven days to leave. I just got a call for a job as general manager for Burger King and I knew I could stay at a shelter.”

Defense attorney Alfonso Kraft did not ask Guthridge if she killed her mother. Green did not cross-examine Guthridge. Kraft did not present any other witnesses or testimony.

In his statements to the jury, Kraft asked the jurors to find that the state failed to prove its case and find Guthridge not guilty. Kraft did not tell jurors his client was innocent or point the finger of guilt at another person.

Verdict

A Clayton County jury took about 20 minutes to convict Guthridge of stabbing to death her mother last year. Prosecutor Jason Green said the state was satisfied with the verdict and stated:

“We are very pleased with the verdict and the decisiveness with which the jury rendered it,” and “While we think all crimes, no matter how major or minor, deserve serious deliberation, this crime in particular was completely indefensible, horrible and irrefutable.”

Green said he was especially grateful for the swiftness of the decision. Green said he asked the jury not to spend a lot of time deliberating and pointed out the facts called for a quick verdict. Green said:

“The speed of their verdict speaks to the jury’s intelligence and powers of discernment.”

Sentencing

Guthridge was sentenced on August 22, 2013.

Judge Matthew Simmons followed the state’s recommendation and sentenced Guthridge, 25, to life in prison without parole. Simmons said:

“During the 911 call, she was completely dispassionate,” and:

Simmons said it was unclear whether Guthridge had remorse and whether she realized what she had done. Simmons said he feared she would continue to be a danger to others if she were allowed parole. Simmons said:

“I don’t think anyone is safe if she’s released from custody,” and: “I don’t think other members of her family would be safe. I would sentence her to life without the possibility of parole for the protection of society and the family.”

Simmons’ words echoed statements by Clayton County Executive Assistant District Attorney Jason Green. Green tried the case with Assistant District Attorney Brian Ross. Green said:

“She still doesn’t care that her mother is dead,” and: “She’s completely unfazed, completely unmoved. And the insult of insults, she testifies in court that they went to court and the next thing she knew the police were at the house.”

Outcome

Guthridge was convicted of killing her mother and received a sentence of life in prison without parole.

After the sentencing, Adu’s sister, Jeanette Smith, and neighbor Sonja Casey mourned her loss. Smith said:

“She has shown no remorse whatsoever,” and: “It’s been just awful and it’s sad. We just take one day at a time. This has been the hardest on the family.”

Casey agreed with the sentence and said:

“It was the right sentence,” and: “We’re glad. She is without remorse. We’re glad it’s behind us.”

Timeline

• June 11, 2012 — Police found Deloise Adu inside the family home on Carnes Estates Drive after she was stabbed multiple times.
• June 12, 2012 — Bond was denied for Takeyia Guthridge; she was charged with murder and aggravated assault after a domestic-dispute response.
• August 20, 2013 — A jury was seated in the trial of Guthridge accused of stabbing to death her mother.
• August 22, 2013 — Guthridge was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• August 23, 2013 — Judge Matthew Simmons described Guthridge as having a “chilling lack of remorse” when explaining the sentence.

Other details

Guthridge’s mother had seven days to vacate the Jonesboro home after a Clayton County Magistrate Court judge ordered Guthridge’s eviction from the family home.

At the time of arrest and trial, Guthridge was identified as Takeyia Kentay Guthridge and as Takeyia Guthridge, 25. Frank Adu was identified as 20 during testimony and returned from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The 911 call was referenced by Judge Matthew Simmons, who said Guthridge did not want to do CPR.

Photographs of Deloise Adu showing wounds were identified and discussed by medical examiner Steven Atkinson during the trial.

Guthridge sat with her chin resting in her hand during the testimony and display of photos and showed no outward signs of emotional upset.