Georgia Man Accused in 1985 Double Murder Revealed as Father of Jacksonville’s ‘Craigslist Killer’
GEORGIA — Shocking new revelations have emerged in a decades-old Georgia cold case involving the brutal 1985 murder of Harold and Thelma Swain at a church in Waverly. According to a newly released book, the man now accused in the case is Earnest “Billy” Barrington, who is also the father of Henry Tenon — the admitted triggerman in the high-profile 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
1985 Georgia Church Murders Reexamined
The murders of Harold and Thelma Swain inside the Rising Daughter Baptist Church have haunted the Waverly community for nearly 40 years. The couple was shot in the church vestibule after a man reportedly asked to speak with the pastor during Bible study.
In 2003, Dennis Perry was convicted of the crime, but his conviction was later overturned based on new DNA evidence. That left the case open once again — until now.
Author Claims New Suspect Is Killer’s Father
Author and investigative journalist Bobbi Bacha claims in her book “The Bridegan Connection” that the new suspect is not Perry — but Earnest Barrington. She alleges that Barrington, who lived just a few blocks away from the church in 1985, matches the physical description and even resembles a police sketch created at the time.
The twist? Barrington is the father of Henry Tenon, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to second-degree murder in the assassination-style shooting of Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft executive and father of four.
The two cases, separated by nearly four decades, now appear to share a chilling family connection.
Connections Drawn Between Two Violent Crimes
The book outlines how Bacha, a seasoned investigator, began piecing together the connections between Tenon and Barrington after noticing similar behavioral patterns, including military history, location proximity, and forensic timelines. Tenon was reportedly raised in Georgia before moving to Jacksonville, where he became involved with co-conspirators in the Bridegan murder.
Barrington, now in his 70s, has not been formally charged in the Georgia case, but Bacha has called for renewed law enforcement focus based on her research.
What Happens Next?
While the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has not confirmed any updates, the emergence of Barrington as a person of interest may reignite calls to close the case for good. The Swain family and members of the Rising Daughter Baptist Church have long sought justice.
The book’s claims were first reported by First Coast News, who interviewed Bacha about her findings. She also suggests other possible links between Barrington and unresolved crimes.
True Crime, Justice, and a Community Still Waiting
For the community in Waverly, Georgia, the resurfacing of this case is a painful reminder of the violent night that claimed two lives inside a sacred place. And for those following the Bridegan case, the possible multigenerational connection only deepens the intrigue — and tragedy — surrounding these violent acts.
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