"This is the story of Georgia Liyah Moses." — Ashley Flowers
"The defining moment that emphasized how little care was taken throughout the entire investigation, they didn't even get her (beep) name right." — Maria Martin
"Justice for Georgia, Leah Moses, is also honoring and restoring her legacy and sharing the true story of who she was." — Ashley Flowers
This episode of Crime Junkie recounts the disturbing and tragically mishandled case of Georgia Liyah Moses, a 12-year-old girl murdered in Santa Rosa, California, in 1997. The narrative begins with the discovery of her body before she was officially reported missing, underscoring initial systemic oversights. The investigation was further complicated by severe decomposition, leading to misidentification of age and gender, and conflicting accounts regarding when and how Georgia was reported missing. The episode highlights the significant role of Georgia's younger sister, Angel, who alerted authorities to her sister's disappearance and later became a relentless advocate for justice.
The detailed summary explores the circumstances leading up to Georgia's death, including her role as a caregiver to her younger sister due to their mother's mental health condition. Georgia's involvement with an older peer group, hints of potential sex trafficking, and her apprehension about attending a "party" are presented as crucial elements in her final hours. The episode also critically examines law enforcement's handling of the case, pointing to missed leads, a potential lack of thoroughness in following up on witness statements, and significant errors, such as incorrectly recording Georgia's middle name, which persisted across official documents and even her gravestone.
The podcast also addresses the media's initial portrayal of Georgia as a "troubled kid," a narrative that Angel and other community members found to be victim-blaming and a stark contrast to the extensive coverage given to other young victims. The episode concludes by detailing Angel and Maria Martin's dedicated efforts to uncover the truth, including the creation of a podcast titled "Georgia Lee" to share Georgia's story accurately and advocate for renewed attention to her case, alongside information about available rewards for tips.