Police charge 14-year-old Tifton girl with murder after finding mother dead

Written by: E. George

Published December 1, 2024 @ 1:05 PM ET

TIFT COUNTY, Ga. – On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, a 14-year-old girl was involved in a rollover accident in Bibb County. When Crawford County deputies could not make contact with the juvenile’s mother, they entered the family’s East 18th Street apartment and discovered the 51-year-old woman deceased with a gunshot wound.

Authorities have not released the girl’s name or a possible motive but revealed that she faces a charge of felony murder for the death of her mother, Rachel Wagner. Tifton Police explained that they received a call to report to the residence at approximately 8:00 AM, and when they arrived, they knocked on the door and called Wagner’s phone but failed to get an answer.

A neighboring resident reported that the victim left for work every morning at about 7:20 AM, but when officers called her manager, they learned she never arrived. With assistance from the landlord, they entered the apartment and found Wagner in a bedroom.

Reports indicated that Wagner’s daughter was detained and transported to a regional youth detention center. This investigation is active and ongoing.