The Unsolved Murder of Rhonda Sue Coleman: A 35-Year Quest for Justice

On the night of May 17, 1990, eighteen-year-old Rhonda Sue Coleman should have been home by her 10:30 p.m. curfew. Instead, the bright, outgoing senior from Jeff Davis High School in Hazlehurst, Georgia, vanished into the darkness, leaving behind only her abandoned car and a family whose lives would be forever shattered.

A Night That Changed Everything

Rhonda was just two weeks away from graduating high school. That Thursday evening, she attended a senior class tradition—a banner-decorating party with her classmates. Though her parents, Milton and Gayle Coleman, typically didn't allow their only child to be out late on school nights, they made an exception for this special occasion.

Around 10 p.m., Rhonda's friends dropped her off at a gas station where she'd parked her white car so she'd be home on time. She was last seen leaving the convenience store with friends around that time, heading home to meet her curfew.

But Rhonda never made it home.

When his daughter didn't arrive by 10:30 p.m., Milton Coleman grew concerned. Rhonda was almost never late, and if she was running behind, she always called ahead. Around 11:00 p.m., Milton drove out to search for his daughter.

What he found was chilling: Rhonda's 1989 Chevy Cavalier was abandoned on the side of the road with the lights on, the engine running, and her purse still inside. But Rhonda was nowhere to be found. Evidence at the scene showed footprints leading from her vehicle to another unidentified car.

The Discovery

For three agonizing days, the community searched desperately for Rhonda. Volunteers handed out flyers, ground searches combed through the area, and helicopters swept the landscape from above. The Coleman family clung to hope that their beloved daughter would be found alive.

On May 20, 1990, a hunter discovered Rhonda's body in a wooded area in Montgomery County, Georgia, approximately 15 miles from where her car had been found. She had been murdered, her body burned in what appeared to be an attempt to destroy evidence. Remarkably, she was still fully clothed.

Perhaps most frustratingly, an autopsy conducted at the GBI crime lab could not determine Rhonda's exact cause of death due to the burned state of her body. To this day, her official cause of death remains listed as "undetermined."

A Family's Unwavering Determination

In the 35 years since that terrible night, Milton and Gayle Coleman have never stopped fighting for justice for their daughter. Rhonda was their only child, and they describe having been an exceptionally close, loving family. She had dreams of attending Georgia Southern University to become a pediatric nurse—dreams that would never be realized.

"After 25 years, we're still here," Gayle once said with determination. "We have not divorced. We have not left our community. We still love each other and we are planning to be together until we cross those Pearly Gates, too."

The Colemans have pursued every possible avenue for justice. They hired a private investigator who conducted new interviews and polygraph tests. They worked with podcaster Sean Kipe, whose "Fox Hunter" podcast brought renewed attention to the case and uncovered new information. The podcast revealed witness accounts and raised questions about the initial investigation that had gone unanswered for decades.

Questions and Suspicions

Over the years, the case has been marked by frustration and concerns about how it was handled. Retired law enforcement officials who have reviewed the case have described the handling of Rhonda's investigation as "disappointing," noting there have been "a lot of missteps" over the years.

Despite many people in the community claiming to know who killed Rhonda, the lack of hard evidence has kept the case from being solved. Investigators believe there are individuals who possess information but have remained silent—whether out of fear, guilt, or other motivations.

The family has also been troubled by jurisdictional issues. Although Rhonda's body was found in Montgomery County, Jeff Davis County took over the case, a decision that has raised questions among those close to the investigation.

A Legacy of Change: The Coleman-Baker Act

From their pain and frustration, Milton and Gayle Coleman chose to channel their grief into meaningful change. Working alongside the family of another victim—Tara Louise Baker, a University of Georgia law student killed in Athens in 2001—the Colemans helped draft groundbreaking legislation.

On April 28, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Coleman-Baker Act into law, making it the first legislation of its kind at the state level in the nation. The Act, which became effective July 1, 2023, fundamentally changed how Georgia handles cold cases.

Under the Coleman-Baker Act, families of murder victims can request that law enforcement agencies reopen cold cases to evaluate whether new technology or investigative techniques could solve them. If families are dissatisfied with the initial review, they can seek further examination by an administrative law judge. The legislation also established a dedicated Cold Case Unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, funded with $5.4 million for ten full-time agents.

The Act applies to murders occurring after January 1, 1970, that remain unsolved at least three years after the crime. It gives designated family members access to case files after six years have passed and mandates that law enforcement agencies develop procedures to handle reinvestigation requests.

Inspired by the Fox Hunter podcast's coverage of Rhonda's case, this legislation represents a beacon of hope not just for the Coleman family, but for hundreds of other Georgia families seeking answers. The GBI has identified approximately 600 open unsolved homicide cases that qualify for review under the new law.

Seeking Justice

Today, the investigation into Rhonda Sue Coleman's murder remains active. The Coleman family continues to offer a reward of $35,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in their daughter's case.

Investigators believe this case can still be solved. They are confident that people in the community possess knowledge about what happened that May night in 1990. Perhaps advances in forensic technology, renewed investigative efforts under the Coleman-Baker Act, or someone's long-overdue willingness to come forward will finally bring the answers the Coleman family has sought for more than three decades.

Rhonda Sue Coleman was a beloved daughter, a dedicated student, and a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She deserves justice. Her parents, who have endured 35 years of grief while transforming their pain into legislation that will help countless other families, deserve answers.

How You Can Help

If you have any information about the murder of Rhonda Sue Coleman on May 17, 1990, please contact:

• Georgia Bureau of Investigation: (912) 389-4103 or 1-800-597-TIPS (8477)

• Fox Hunter Podcast Tip Line: (470) 440-1150

• Email: foxhunterpodcast@gmail.com

You may remain anonymous if you choose. Even the smallest piece of information could be the key to finally solving this case and bringing peace to a family that has waited far too long for justice.

Rhonda Sue Coleman: May 1972 - May 20, 1990. Gone but never forgotten.