Cobb County

Police work to solve woman's 2005 murder

By Nefertiti Jaquez
By Nefertiti Jaquez

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — It is a murder mystery that has been on the minds of the residents of a Cobb County neighborhood for 12 years: Who killed Kathy Harper?

Harper’s home along Gordon Circle has remained empty since the day her body was found in the middle of her living room.

“It’s hard, and it’s still hard after 12 years,” Harper’s best friend, Mary Cooper, told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez. “When we found out what happened, it was like the whole world caved in.”

Copper said she became instant friends with Harper when they were children.

Her death broke her heart, Cooper said. And she wasn’t alone. Harper’s neighbors were also grief-stricken.

Leon Williams called 911 in October 2005 after he went to Harper’s home worried something was up.

“As soon as I got up the driveway, I started smelling an odor,” Williams said.

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Police said Harper had been dead for nearly a week.

“It was shocking because she was in an advanced stage of decomposition,” said Louis Defense, with the Smyrna Police Department.

Jaquez got exclusive access to Harper’s case file Thursday night.

Evidence photos show the shell casing of the 9mm gun that detectives said the killer used to shoot Harper in the head.

Images shed light on other clues – including a pillow – they said the person used to silence the shot before sneaking out of the home.

“Kathy was a very sweet young lady. Very, very artistic,” neighbor Mattie Conely told Jaquez.

Harper was remembered as an artistic glassblower who gifted everyone she loved with her artwork.

After 12 years, police hope to keep their promise in trying to solve the murder of a woman who was truly loved.

“The wound will never close, but at least we would know,” Cooper said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call the Smyrna Police Department.

Cox Media Group

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