Nothing Good Happens At 3 A.M.: The Murders Of Natalie Anderson And Carter Davis.

Natalie Anderson

“I can’t live without music. Try to live life to the fullest.”

She was a sweet southern belle from Roswell, Georgia. Natalie was a leader in the award-winning Color Guard of the Roswell High School Band, a life guard for Swim Atlanta, a talented singer, a guitar player, and a lover of animals who volunteered countless hours to animal rescue. When she'd walk into the room she'd brighten everyone's day. She was a fun, smart, talented young woman who was loved by so many. She had a loving heart and an infectious zest for life. She had the courage to always be, unapologetically, herself. 

Carter Davis

"But no matter the circumstances staying positive and working hard will get you where you want to go.”

He was a promising athlete. He played football and was star of the lacrosse team. Carter had posted a moving essay on a lacrosse recruiting website in which he talked about his future and overcoming adversity. He lived life to the fullest. Carter was always smiling, always joking and very optimistic. He loved challenges and wanted to go to a college that offered an engineering program.

Carter and his family moved to Georgia the summer before his junior year because his father was trying to find residency as a doctor. His mother was a teacher.

Natalie and Carter were both 17 years old and about to start their senior year in high school. It was late at night on July 31st, 2016 and they had sneaked out of their houses to meet up. The next day, just before 6 a.m., a delivery driver discovered their bodies behind the Publix store. They were in lured poses and had been shot execution style. It was later estimated that they were murdered at 3 a.m.

A white Honda Passport was seen in the area around the time of the murders. 

With a little bit of sleuthing, police discovered that the vehicle belonged to then 20-year-old Jeffery Hazelwood. 

Jeffery was described by some who knew him as a troubled loner who went to an alternative school. He had recently been kicked out of the house, where he lived with his grandparents. He allegedly stole the revolver that he a allegedly used to commit the murders he stole from his grandfather. Jeffery allegedly has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Investigators who searched Jeffery’s room discovered drawings and writings in which the suspect stated his desire to be “an assassin,”  While he was being questioned by police, he shifted between voices, speaking with a whiny voice and a British accent.

Jeffery was seen using Natalie's credit card at a gas station,  shirtless, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and speaking in a British accent. 

Authorities pinged his cellphone to the location of the murders at the time they had taken place.

48 hours later authorities had enough evidence to arrest Jeffery.  

During a preliminary hearing, Jeffery plead not guilty. He avoided eye contact with the family as she shook and twitched about. And even though he wasn't married, he was wearing a wedding band.

Jeffery didn't know Carter or Natalie and there was no clear motive. He was indicted on 15 counts. Prosecution put Jeffery's psychologist on the stand who testified that Jeffery was hearing voices that were friendly and others that were demons. The psychologist also said that Jeffery claimed that god would send him messages through the television and that he felt like someone was watching him through the walls.

Jeffery changed his plea to guilty, but mentally ill. He also  eventually confessed to see the pair in the car and then following them around to the back of the store. He watched them for several minutes before he approached them. He pulled out his gun and demanded that they get out of the car. Jeffery then shot Carter in the head. He made Natalie lean over the car and spanked her before sexual assaulting her. He then shot her in the head. Natalie was nude when he put a feather in her hair and re positioned her. He took off all of Carter's clothes, except for his shorts, and positioned his arms into a cross. Before leaving the scene, Jeffery stole Natalie's wallet. He then went to the gas station wearing a mask. After he used Natalie's credit card to get gas, he went back to where Carter and Natalie's bodies were and stole Carter's jumper cables from his vehicle.

Jeffery received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.