🌱 Patch AM: How DNA from 1990 finally put a Decatur rapist behind bars

Good morning Decatur! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How DNA from 1990 finally put a Decatur rapist behind bars
• How a Decatur microschool is reshaping options for struggling students

Also on today's calendar: 5K Run/Walk & Free Health Fair and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Riddle: David's parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what's the name of the third son? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Decatur Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Decatur Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Mostly sunny; low humidity, with a high of 83 and low of 54 degrees.
• Sunday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 83, low: 53.
• Monday: Some clouds, then sunshine, with a high of 84 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Decatur man gets life in prison after pleading guilty to 36-year-old cold case rape (11alive.com) — A Decatur man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 1990 rape of a woman in her unincorporated Decatur apartment, after new DNA testing finally identified him. The case highlights decades-long evidence backlogs, the work of Georgia's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, and the victim's decision to pursue justice more than 30 years later.
   

• Tiffany Blassingame (federationforchildren.org) — In Decatur, educator Tiffany Blassingame founded The Ferguson School to give children a safe, challenging environment that honors their strengths, especially those with special needs. She shares how one struggling boy thrived there with scholarship support, and argues passionately that school choice helps families find schools that truly see and support their children.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 3
• 5K Run/Walk & Free Health Fair →
  Mount Moriah Now Church, 1983 Brockett Rd, Tucker
  8:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday September 26
• Decatur Amplified concert series →
  Decatur Square, Decatur
  7:00 pm
• Decatur Ghost Tour →
  Decatur GA
  8:00 pm
Sunday September 27
• Walk & Talk w/ Grief →
  500 S Columbia Dr, 500 South Columbia Drive, Decatur
• Coffee, Chapters + Conversation →
  The Reading Room, Decatur
• TONY DITERLIZZI + THE WUMP! →
  Little Shop of Stories, Decatur
• Damien Jurado →
  Eddie's Attic, 515 N McDonough St, Decatur
  8:00 pm
Monday September 28
• Tai Chi/Qigong Midlevel Practice →
  Legacy Park, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur
  5:00 pm
• Halo Decatur - Meet the Mural Artist →
  Three Taverns Brewery, 121 New St, Decatur
  6:30 pm
Saturday October 3
• Pine LakeFest →
  4085 Lakeshore Dr, Pine Lake
  11:00 am
Sunday October 4
• Pine Lake Paddlepalooza! American Dreamboats →
  4580 Lakeshore Dr, Pine Lake
  3:00 pm
Saturday October 10
• Used Book Sale at Decatur Library on Oct. 10 →
  Decatur Library, DeKalb County Public Library, 215 Sycamore St, Decatur
  9:30 am

📣 Decatur Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Decatur PatchAM possible:

• Transit CPR LLC — (678) 856-6115
• Higher Calling Christian Academy — (404) 288-2494
• Alexis S Intimates — (678) 237-9539
• Atlanta Expert Appliance Repair — (404) 834-5157

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Free paper shredding for DeKalb residents 10/17
  A free shredding event for DeKalb County residents is also scheduled for Oct. 17 at the Central Transfer Station, 3270 Leroy Scott Drive in Decatur,… (Nextdoor Winnona Park)
• Upcoming Career fair at New Life Church.
  Sorry but I took the picture while driving past (Nextdoor Straton Hills/Snapfinger)

• Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Accounts Payable Specialist at Quest Financial in Decatur, Georgia in Decatur. Apply here.
• McDonald's posted a job opening for Crew Member in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Avondale Estates

• Avondale Estates hosts FREE 'Shakespeare at Sunset' performances on the Town Green this fall (atlantaonthecheap.com)
• Avondale Estates discusses $500,000 City Hall renovation (decaturish.com)
• Candidate Q&A: Georgia Senate District 10 (decaturish.com)

Clarkston

• Week five delivers high-scoring wins (thechampionnewspaper.com)
• SPH Externally Sponsored Funding Tops $11 Million in Fiscal Year 2026 (gsu.edu)

Atlanta

• WNBA 1st Round Playoffs Set As ATL Dream Scores Home-Court Advantage (patch.com)

Ok Decatur! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: David (Thank you Thomas F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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