In another in the Cold Case Series from Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Cold Case Detective Michael Rising is reaching back to a murder that happened in Monroe in 2002. This particular murder was solved, but Rising is looking into the possibility that it could have actually have been a hit and that two others hits could have resulted in the murder of two other individuals.
“On October 13, 2002, City of Monroe Police units responded to a ‘shots fired’ call at a location within the city limits of Monroe. Upon arrival, responding officers met with Howard Reed. Reed advised the officers his son, Ronald Reed, had just driven onto the property stating that he had ‘accidentally shot his girlfriend, Dawn Nowakowski, while the two were driving in their automobile in Walton County. Ronald Reed was located inside the residence and thereafter admitted to shooting Nowakowski. Reed then admitted he had thrown the weapon that he shot Nowakowski with out of the window somewhere along Highway 78 between Loganville and Monroe,” Rising said. “The Walton County Sheriff’s Office and GBI were contacted for assistance. Subsequent investigation led to Ronald Reed’s indictment and conviction on charges including Felony Murder, Cruelty to Children, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Reed was sentenced to life in Prison.”
Rising said information has recently come to light, however, that suggests that Nowakowski was murdered by Reed after an ordered “hit” from leaders of a drug organization that Reed and Nowakowski were involved in. He said there also is information that Reed and Nowakowski had known about or been involved in two other separate homicides of members of the same drug organization. These potential victims have not yet been identified, but the cases are being investigated by the Walton County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance regarding any information concerning these homicides. Anyone with information regarding these murders should contact Walton County Cold Case Investigator Michael Rising at 770-266-1558 or email michael.rising@co.walton.ga.us. All contacts will be kept confidential.