Loretta Carr received a life sentence plus 20 years for kidnapping and murdering Mary Beth Isbell by forcing her off a cliff in DeKalb County in 2021.
Case Details
Carr and her daughter Jessie Kelly confronted 37-year-old Isbell at her home over an alleged affair with Carr’s partner, attacking and abducting her before driving to Wolf Creek Overlook at Little River Canyon. Carr tied herself to a barrier with rope, forced Isbell over it, and pushed her to her death; Isbell’s remains were found two years later in 2023. Carr pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and murder on February 5, 2026, avoiding a death penalty trial set for March.
Related Sentences
Kelly pleaded guilty to murder in August 2025, receiving 40 years; she cooperated with prosecutors. Originally charged with capital murder, Carr’s plea followed forensic evidence from Isbell’s home linking the pair.
Family Impact
Prosecutor Summer Summerford highlighted the devastation to Isbell’s teen son, mother, and sisters, praising their cooperation. Isbell ran a remodeling business; the case underscores jealousy-fueled violence destroying lives.
