GEORGIAS The horrific 1985 murder of Harold and Thelma Swain at a Waverly church has been the subject of shocking new information in a decades-old Georgia cold case. A recently published book claims that the guy currently facing charges is Ernest Billy Barrington, the father of Henry Tenon, the acknowledged shooter in the well-known 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
1985 Georgia Church Murders Reexamined
For almost 40 years, the Waverly neighborhood has been plagued by the killings of Harold and Thelma Swain within the Rising Daughter Baptist Church. After a guy allegedly asked to talk to the pastor during Bible study, the couple was shot in the church entryway.
Dennis Perry was found guilty of the crime in 2003, but fresh DNA evidence led to the conviction being overturned. As a result, the case has remained open until now.
Author Claims New Suspect Is Killer s Father
In her book The Bridegan Connection, author and investigative journalist Bobbi Bacha asserts that Earnest Barrington, not Perry, is the new suspect. Barrington, who lived a few streets from the church in 1985, she claims, fits the physical description and even looks like a sketch made by the police at the time.
The twist? Henry Tenon, Barrington’s son, entered a guilty plea in 2023 to second-degree murder in connection with the assassination-style killing of Microsoft executive and father of four Jared Bridegan.
Despite being over forty years apart, the two incidents now seem to have a terrifying familial connection.
Connections Drawn Between Two Violent Crimes
In the book, Bacha describes how, after observing comparable behavioral patterns, such as military history, location closeness, and forensic timeframes, the seasoned investigator started to piece together the ties between Tenon and Barrington. According to reports, Tenon grew up in Georgia before relocating to Jacksonville, where he joined other conspirators in the Bridegan killing.
Although Bacha has urged for a fresh focus on law enforcement based on her study, Barrington, who is currently in his 70s, has not been legally charged in the Georgia case.
What Happens Next?
Barrington’s reappearance as a person of interest may rekindle efforts to permanently terminate the case, even though the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has not confirmed any revisions. Justice has long been a goal for the Swain family and Rising Daughter Baptist Church members.
First Coast News first reported on the book’s assertions after speaking with Bacha about her research. She makes more suggestions about potential connections between Barrington and unsolved crimes.
True Crime, Justice, and a Community Still Waiting
The case’s resurgence serves as a bitter reminder to the Waverly, Georgia, community of the horrific night that lost two lives within a place of worship. Furthermore, the mystery and sadness surrounding these terrible crimes are further made more intense for those who are following the Bridegan case by the potential multigenerational connection.
What do you think about the startling family connection to this decades-old case?Visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com to join the discussion and get the most recent information.
