Charges Dropped in Six Chatham County Murder Cases

Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones announced the dismissal of six murder cases due to misconduct by two former Savannah police officers, Ashley Wood and Darryl Repress, who were indicted for perjury and violating their oaths of office. The officers' involvement in these cases rendered critical evidence inadmissible, making the cases unwinnable in court. Jones expressed sympathy for the victims' families, acknowledging the grave injustice they face. The officers were fired after internal investigations revealed Wood falsified information for search warrants and Repress had an improper relationship with an informant. The DA's office reviewed over 50 cases involving the two officers, and although many were resolved through plea deals, the six compromised cases had to be dismissed. Wood and Repress maintain their innocence, with their attorneys asserting their clients' good character.