AUGUSTA, Ga. — Nearly nine years after the death of 16-year-old Janell Carwell, the criminal trial in the case is set to begin February 23, 2026, in Superior Court of Richmond County.
Carwell was reported missing in April 2017 and was later found dead. The case drew significant attention in Augusta and across the region. Leon Lamar Tripp was arrested later that year and has remained in custody since 2017. Bond has not been granted.
Tripp is charged under indictment with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault (family violence), cruelty to children, and concealing the death of another.
The Allegations
According to the indictment and prior court filings, prosecutors allege that Carwell was killed on April 17, 2017. The charges include both malice murder and felony murder, meaning the State alleges intentional killing as well as a killing occurring during the commission of another felony offense.
The indictment also includes aggravated assault under a family violence designation, as well as cruelty to children. Prosecutors further allege that efforts were made to conceal Carwell’s death after it occurred.
Tripp has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As with all criminal defendants, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Specific details surrounding the State’s theory of the case and the defense’s response are expected to be presented during trial proceedings.
From Arrest to Appellate Review
The prosecution has spanned years of litigation. In the early stages of the case, the State filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty. As a result, Tripp’s defense has been handled by attorneys affiliated with the Office of the Capital Defender.
The death penalty was later withdrawn by the State, and the current indictment does not seek capital punishment.
The case has included extensive pretrial motion practice, particularly surrounding the admissibility of custodial interviews conducted in 2017. Suppression hearings were held, and rulings from the trial court were appealed. The Supreme Court of Georgia issued an opinion addressing portions of those suppression decisions, affirming in part and reversing in part before returning the matter to Richmond County for trial proceedings.
Judicial Transitions
Over the course of the case, it has been assigned to three different Superior Court judges.
The matter was initially assigned to Judge Annis, who later retired. It was subsequently overseen by Judge Daniel Craig. Following Craig’s retirement, the case was reassigned to Judge Charles H.S. Lyons III, who will now preside over the trial.
The extended timeline has included evidentiary hearings, appellate proceedings, reindictment, and repeated calendar settings before finally reaching a firm trial date in 2026.
Lengthy Pretrial Detention
Tripp has remained incarcerated throughout the pendency of the case. The length of time between arrest and trial places the matter among the longer-running serious felony prosecutions currently pending in Richmond County.
What Comes Next
With proceedings scheduled to begin February 23, the case now moves from years of procedural litigation into active trial.
The upcoming trial marks a significant procedural milestone in one of Richmond County’s longest-pending homicide cases.
Garden City Gossip will begin courtroom coverage as proceedings unfold, focusing on verified testimony, official filings, and developments inside the courtroom.
