Man confesses to 2002 double murder in Paulding County

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A man has confessed to a double-murder that happened nearly 17 years ago in Paulding County.

According to Paulding County Sheriff's Office officials, Andrew John Shadrix, 44, killed two men on Sept. 15, 2002, on Cochran Store Road in Douglasville in unincorporated Paulding County.

Police responded to a vehicle fire on I-20 in the early morning hours and found two burned bodies in the trunk of a car. An autopsy revealed the two men had been shot to death.

The victims were identified as Shad Andrew English, 21, and Dennis Jeffrey Jackson, 19, both of Paulding County. Sheriff’s officials said the case went cold with few leads.

“These two young men were a part of this community. There’s always been speculation that it occurred here in Paulding County,” Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

Henson had been with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department just two weeks when it happened.

English's sister, Leslie Tibbetts, told Channel 2 Action News she and her family have struggled since losing their loved one.

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“I guess the best way to describe it would be a big speed bump, but you can’t get over,” Tibbetts said. “I’ll never be able to forget it. It was the worst day of my life. He was such a good friend, a good brother, a good son. He was good at everything that he ever did. He was a light. He was always smiling."

Atlanta police worked the case for years. It wasn’t until 2018 that police began to suspect Shadrix. Police said he had been in and out of the correctional system for years. Shadrix confessed to the murders on the night of Wednesday, May 22.

“We are very grateful, very grateful,” Tibbetts said. “Now I can put some of that behind me and think back on the good things.”

Deputies said the newest developments in the case resulted from a combined effort by Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Gang Task Force, the Atlanta Police Department and Paulding County deputies.

Shadrix is currently incarcerated in the Georgia State Prison system on unrelated charges. More charges are possible for the suspect.

Cox Media Group