As Keisha Lance Bottoms campaigns for Georgia governor, touting a "very strong record" on public safety, her tenure as Atlanta mayor is facing renewed scrutiny, particularly due to the still-unsolved murder of Katherine Janness.
Janness, 40, was found stabbed more than 50 times in Piedmont Park in July 2021 while walking her dog. Her dog was also killed in the attack. Five years later, no suspects have been identified, and the case remains open, casting a shadow over Bottoms's claims of proven leadership in crime reduction.
During her mayoral term, Bottoms's handling of crime drew criticism. In the immediate aftermath of Janness's murder, friends and residents publicly questioned the city's response and demanded answers. At a vigil near the crime scene, Janness's friend Chip Powell called for the mayor to explain what happened, also highlighting a lack of adequate surveillance in the park.
Coincidentally, on the day Powell made his plea, Bottoms was photographed attending a reception for the movie "Respect" on Martha's Vineyard, over 1,000 miles away. This timing added to existing concerns, amplified by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's editorial board weeks prior, that Bottoms seemed "absent from the fight" against rising crime.
Bottoms has defended her record, citing pay raises for Atlanta police and firefighters and support for the city's Public Safety Training Center. She has argued that appearing at crime scenes is a simplistic solution to complex issues and that rising crime was a national trend during the pandemic.
A significant point of contention has been the surveillance system in Piedmont Park. At the time of Janness's murder, nine cameras in the park were not integrated with the police department's monitoring systems. While upgrades were approved during Bottoms's administration, the new cameras were not installed until after she left office. Her successor, Andre Dickens, has acknowledged that working cameras could have significantly aided the investigation into Janness's death.
Janness's murder occurred during a period of heightened violence in Atlanta. The city recorded approximately 160 homicides in 2021, one of its highest totals in decades. Over Bottoms's four-year term, more than 500 homicides were recorded in the city. Critics, including former City Council President Felicia Moore and a primary challenger, have pointed to this record, questioning her readiness to lead the state.
Two Democratic Georgia sheriffs recently endorsed Bottoms's Republican opponent, Rick Jackson, citing public safety as their primary concern. Bottoms's campaign, however, rejects these attacks, emphasizing her investments in public safety, including police and firefighter pay raises and plans for violence reduction. A campaign spokesperson stated that as governor, Bottoms would prioritize keeping Georgians safe and supporting law enforcement.
The campaign has also addressed Janness's murder directly, with a spokesperson saying Bottoms "continues to hold Katie Janness' family in her thoughts as they grieve her tragic loss." Despite these assurances, the unsolved nature of the crime remains a focal point as the gubernatorial race intensifies.