A Georgia father who lied when his young daughter’s mother claimed he stabbed himself 14 times in front of other children has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. He was sentenced to an additional 100 years in prison.
Gregory Deonte Norwood, 31, had tried to claim that teacher Crystal Powell committed suicide during an argument when he showed up at his home in Monroe, about 45 miles east of Atlanta, in April 2022.
Although the couple’s infant did not witness the brutality, the mother’s other three children and two cousins ”witnessed the murder and saw Crystal’s body in front of the house.” This was announced by the Walton County District Attorney’s Office.
After Norwood fled with the young child, the oldest of the five children, 11, called 911 to report the brutal killing.
The suspect was found wearing blood-stained shoes, and DNA tests confirmed they matched the victim.
Norwood was “interrogated and made a statement in which he claimed that Crystal had stabbed himself,” prosecutors said.
He repeated this throughout the trial, taking the stand and attempting to “blame Krystal for the death and that she stabbed herself 14 times.”
However, the trial heard testimony from five young witnesses who witnessed the murder, as well as a coroner who said the wound was never self-inflicted.
Jurors also heard that Norwood had a history of domestic violence against the mother of his young children.
“The jury was clearly not convinced.” [Norwood’s] “It’s a self-serving case that doesn’t match any of the evidence presented,” the prosecutor added.
It took just an hour for the jury to find Norwood guilty of two counts of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and domestic violence. He was also found guilty of five counts of first-degree child abuse.
He was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 100 years.
Powell, a Newton County School Board teacher, is remembered as a loving mother, daughter and sister. According to her obituary.
“Crystal loved Braves baseball, enjoyed baking, shopping, and spending time with her children and family,” the obi said. “She was much loved by everyone and she will be greatly missed.”
District Attorney Randy McGinley called it a just outcome for “such a heartbreaking trial.”
“While this ruling cannot bring Crystal back, we hope it brings some closure and a sense of justice to her family and friends,” he said.
