Katelyn Brooks
This week, we focus on the tragic case of UGA Law student Katelyn Brooks, a young woman whose life was destroyed not just by a predator but by a justice system that failed to protect her. Katelyn was a UGA law student when she discovered that Avery Hogan Pendergraph had secretly recorded her in her own home, violating her privacy in the most horrific way. He posted the footage online, leaving Katelyn devastated.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the District Attorney's office in Athens-Clarke County dismissed the most serious charges against Pendergraph. Instead of pursuing a conviction that could have kept him behind bars for life, they allowed him to plead to lesser charges, adding no real time to his sentence. This decision left Katelyn and her family feeling betrayed and abandoned.
Unable to cope with the trauma and the failure of the justice system to hold Pendergraph fully accountable, Katelyn took her own life just one day after his sentencing. Her story is a sobering reminder of the dire consequences when the legal system fails to uphold justice.
We spotlight Katelyn’s story not just to remember her but to call for accountability. The justice system must do better to protect victims and ensure that those who commit such heinous crimes, in our community, are held fully responsible
Join us in remembering Katelyn Brooks and supporting our mission to improve safety and security in Athens, GA.
Share her story, raise awareness, and help us ensure that no other victim is left unprotected.