Atlanta mayor says Piedmont Park murder drove more security cameras

The unsolved 2021 killing of Katie Janness and her dog sparked changes to increase park safety.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:37am

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An extreme close-up of a single bloodied knife blade against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the violent crime that occurred in Piedmont Park.The gruesome unsolved murder of a woman and her dog in Piedmont Park has driven Atlanta to improve security camera coverage across its parks.Atlanta Today

Nearly five years after the gruesome unsolved murder of Katie Janness and her dog Bowie in Atlanta's Piedmont Park, the city's mayor says the lack of working security cameras at the time hindered the investigation. In response, the city has since worked to ensure all park cameras are operational and more widely available to assist law enforcement.

Why it matters

The 2021 murder of Janness and her dog sparked outrage and concern over public safety in Piedmont Park, one of Atlanta's most popular green spaces. The recent shooting death of a 16-year-old girl in the park has further highlighted the need for improved security measures.

The details

In the early hours of July 28, 2021, Janness, 40, and her 3-year-old dog Bowie were found stabbed to death at the entrance of Piedmont Park. The case remains unsolved, with no arrests made and a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said limited camera coverage at the time hindered the investigation. Following the murder, the city took steps to ensure all park cameras are operational and more widely available to assist law enforcement.

  • The murder of Katie Janness and her dog Bowie occurred on July 28, 2021.
  • On April 7, 2026, Atlanta's mayor discussed the impact of the unsolved 2021 murder on the city's efforts to improve park security.

The players

Katie Janness

A 40-year-old woman who was found gruesomely stabbed to death along with her dog Bowie in Piedmont Park in 2021.

Bowie

Janness' 3-year-old dog who was also found stabbed to death alongside his owner in Piedmont Park in 2021.

Andre Dickens

The current mayor of Atlanta who says the unsolved 2021 murder of Janness and her dog drove the city to improve security camera coverage in Piedmont Park.

Tianah Robinson

A 16-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Piedmont Park on a recent Saturday night.

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What they’re saying

“If we had more cameras that were working at the time, we would have been able to have more investigative power.”

— Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta

“We're still out there looking for her killer.”

— Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta

What’s next

The city is offering a $15,000 reward to find the person responsible for the recent shooting death of 16-year-old Tianah Robinson in Piedmont Park.

The takeaway

The unsolved 2021 murder of Katie Janness and her dog in Piedmont Park highlighted the need for improved security measures in the popular Atlanta green space. While the case remains unsolved, the city has since worked to ensure all park cameras are operational and more widely available to assist law enforcement, aiming to prevent future tragedies.