A Hephzibah man serving a life sentence in the 1997 slaying of a local disc jockey has been denied an appeal to overturn his conviction.
Garry Deyon Johnson, now 62, was convicted in December 2000 of the robbery and murder of 31-year-old Irene Shields, a part-time DJ at Augusta radio station WFXA-FM (103.1). A man who thought he was following bloody deer tracks into woods off Boll Weevil Road in Burke County instead found her bound, battered body, The Augusta Chronicle reported at the time.
In appealing his December 2025 denial for a new trial, Johnson argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia that there wasn't enough evidence to prove he committed
the crimes; that his legal representation was poor; that delays in his appeal hurt his ability to challenge his conviction; and that prosecutors allowed misleading testimony from his own brother.
The high court rejected each argument.
Evidence gathered at the crime scene included shoe prints matching Johnson's Timberland boots; tire tracks matching the victim's vehicle; and the victim's DNA on duct tape and inside Shields' gold Ford Explorer.
The state Supreme Court issued its decision Sept. 9. The case is No. S26A1017, Garry Deyon Johnson v. The State.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia Supreme Court upholds conviction in killing of Augusta DJ
