DNA Solves 1984 Murder of Sandra Kaye Davis After 40 Years

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has announced the arrest of 68-year-old Freddie Lee Granger Jr. in connection with the 1984 murder of 22-year-old Sandra Kaye Davis in Waycross, Georgia. Granger was charged with rape, aggravated assault, malice murder, and felony murder after DNA evidence linked him to the crime, which had gone unsolved for over four decades.

Why it matters

The arrest in this long-dormant cold case provides closure for the Davis family and the Waycross community, while also highlighting the power of continued DNA testing and investigation to solve even the oldest unsolved crimes. It demonstrates the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice, no matter how much time has passed.

The details

Sandra Kaye Davis' body was found beside a home on Kollock Street in Waycross on September 1, 1984. She had been strangled. The case went unsolved for over 40 years until continued DNA testing ultimately linked 68-year-old Freddie Lee Granger Jr. to the crime. Granger was arrested on March 31 and charged with one count of rape, one count of aggravated assault, one count of malice murder, and two counts of felony murder.

• Sandra Kaye Davis' body was found on September 1, 1984.
• Freddie Lee Granger Jr. was arrested on March 31, 2026.

What’s next

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be forwarded to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.