Explore Corpsewood Manor #SpotlightSunday
Corpsewood Manor stands as a reminder to a less tolerant time when retired college professor, Charles L. Scudder, and his partner, Joseph “Joey” Odom, were brutally murdered and their two English Mastiffs killed in rural Georgia. However, unlike many infamous locations, Corpsewood Manor may be explored.
Dr. Charles Scudder, age 56, and Joey Odom, age 37, moved to the northwest corner of Georgia, near the town of Trion to escape the hustle of city life. They christened their castle-like home “Corpsewood Manor.” They were living off the grid and isolated. They were harmless and wanted to be left alone.
On December 12, 1982, Kenneth Avery Brock (a.k.a. Kenneth Avery Brock Lowrence), age 17, and Samuel Tony West, age 30, joined an impromptu party at Corpsewood with 2 additional teenagers, Teresa Hudgins and Joey Wells. Brock claimed that West savagely gunned down Scudder and Odom. The pair stole Scudder’s Jeep and fled Georgia. The Jeep broke down and the pair ended up at a rest stop in Mississippi where they murdered Navy Lt. Kirby Phelps. They fled in Phelps’ car.
Unfortunately, local law enforcement did not help the situation by labeling Scudder and Odom “devil worshipers” who kept human skulls, read books on Satanism, and were openly homosexual. The truth remains that 2 kind-hearted men were slaughtered in their own home.
The execution-style murders garnered a lot of attention—even today. West was found guilty of 2 counts of murders and armed robbery and sentenced to death (which was eventually commuted to life), while Brock, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery and to murder, was given three consecutive life sentences. Both remained incarcerated: Brock serves in the Coffee Correctional Facility and West resides in Wilcox State Prison.
What makes this tragedy unique is that the victims’ families permit people to visit and to explore the grounds. Warning: The area is extremely rustic. Plan accordingly as there are no toilet facilities. The only caveat to visiting is to remain respectful. Do not litter or damage. Leave the area as you find. For more information, search Facebook for the “public figure” profile. I have respectfully not linked it to the article. If ever in northwest Georgia, visit Corpsewood Manor. Wear rain boots, though. There are snakes in the wild. If you visit, let me know. Drop me a line and possibly some pictures. It is important to remember that heinous crimes are still committed against the innocent, especially those in our LGBTQA communities.
Loading ...
This is a surprising story on so many levels, but most of all that the families are ok with visitors as long as they’re respectful. WOW. However, for sure this is one I’d have to visit alone. The ol’ hub HATES snakes. There are no boots thick enough to encourage him to go romping on any grounds where he might encounter some. lol Thank you for this most beautiful post!