What a senseless waste! Poor man was in his golden years an didn't get to enjoy them.

He looks so unremorseful .... an "eye for an eye" is what comes to mind. The Pedens are great people, and no punishment will be severe enough .... Death penalty may even be too easy for this animal.

I live in this neighborhood and it was never this way I feel like I should always carry my weapon! This man just came home from work he did nothing wrong!

So sad to see that the word community means nothing in these days and times. This was an unwarranted crime in a peacful neighborhood. What ever happened to love thy nieghbor. I'm a long time resident of Douglas County and I live in the vicinity, there was a time when you could leave your home and your neighbors would watch out for it as well as get the mail if you were on vacation and threre was no need for alarm systems. Now people could care less. My heart goes out to both families because two lives are soon to be gone. I will be so glad we the world comes full circle and we get back to the days of no worry.

I've lived in Douglasville nearly sixteen years an I have definitely seen the changes. People just aren't the same. With people who cannot sell their homes renting them and HUD giving homes away for pennies on the dollar, the population has changed. People just aren't good neighbors anymore. I'm worried about someone breaking into my home. I'm seriously considering purchasing a firearm for my protection also. If it were to have been put to a vote, I would rather have spent the money the county used to get cable installed for the prisoners in the jail to hire more police. We need police constantly driving around Douglas like they do up north. We need to protect seniors who cannot protect themselves and try to deter a crime before it happens. That means more police and deputies out there driving the streets and letting their presence be seen.

people need to remember inocent till proven guilty... my child is best friends with this mans children and though i do find this very unsettleing as of right now there is no weapon found and this family has had outta town company staying with them so untill evidence has been found we need to remeber our rights as americans to due process of justice....

The article doesn't state it, but if Mr. Peden was stabbed to death, how do authorities know he came home to find his neighbor, Baltodano stealing his property? Was there an eye witness that wasn't mentioned in the article? Was the thief/murdered still on the property when emergency assistance arrived?

The Sheriff did not indicate what evidence they have to indicate it was burglary. It was simply a statement from the Sheriff.

My heart goes out to BOTH families. I have been on both sides. My father shot and killed my step-mom and I was blamed by many of her family and friends. It will be difficult for them all. My prayers are with the Preens during this time. My oldest daughter is friends with his daughter in law. They will be facing many emotions in the coming days and months and need for everyone to pray for them during this time. The family of the accused also needs your prayers and pray for strength for them all.

Thank you Patch for your fine reporting on incidents and issues in Dougalsville and the County. You have become my source for keeping connected. Keep up the good work.

We don't need more police. We need to do away with the justice system and take things into our own hands. This guy needs to be taken off of this planet. And not in 20 to 30 years of eating free meals and getting free shelter. And it should be done at the hands of the people who want him dead the most. The family of the victim. Police are useless. All they care about is making money for the state and taking away our rights. Never sacrifice liberty for security.

peden's not preens

I heard on the scanner Baltdano's wife called 911 when her husband David showed up at their house covered in blood he also had taken at gunpoint and was expected to be armed he was arrested at Yeager middle school

What is wrong with the world today. I know things are bad but geez what are people so hateful. I Mean really what did that man ever do to him. Condolences to the loves ones family.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is badly managed by Sheriff Miller.

A huge number of employees are put in the schools. Most of this is bunk. I personally know children who were arrested, booked, their parents had to bail them out of jail, employee an attorney and go to court because the child had an aspirin in his pocket.

At any given time, day or night, there are only a few deputies on patrol in the county.

Most of the patrols are on Thornton Rd. and hwy 20. That's because that is where the money is, traffic violations that turn into much more.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

OK, do you want the sheriff's department to put most of its effort and manpower on Thornton Rd and 20 or do you want neighborhood patrols? Do you want schools overrun with cops.

The choice is yours at election time this year.

Wow. I listen to the scanner and I believe the sherriff's office is doing the best they can with what they get.

I think the cops should be in our schools because they need to meet the criminals of the future - sorry but it seems this is where the wrong choices start, I think this is a good way to nip it in the bud - one way or another.

Speculation about what happens in any court case is just that until the facts are presented to a judge and jury.

How about some LEGAL constructive brainstorming on how to improve our community. I report and note suspicious people in my neighborhood. The Sheriff's office has a non emergency number. I know and watch out for my neighbors - even the new ones that moved into the foreclosures on my street. Do you do something special to make Douglasville better? Share it and maybe someone else will start making a difference too.

My theory with the law is if I don't cause a problem, I won't have a problem. If I do my part - maybe our public servants will be able to accomplish more.

And finally, I pray. Please pray for your neighbors, your community and your leaders, and for ALL the people who suffer because of criminal acts.

Our prayers go out to the family.

That was a mighty fast response to my comment, Mr. Blank.

A man was just murdered in Florida because the self-appointed neighborhood watchman figured someone was suspicious.

The police did nothing. It took an uprising of national and international outrage to get something done about it.

Maybe you should reread my comment.

I wrote that children have been arrested in Douglas County schools because they had an aspirin in their pockets. That doesn't sound to me like "nipping crime in the bud."

You did not answer what I wrote. You made up something.

The manpower of the sheriff's dept. has been diverted from neighborhood patrols to kids and traffic stops on busy Thornton Rd and hwy 20 because that is where the money is.

Mr. Blank, you sound like you might be a cop.

One other thing.

Mr. Blank wants us to pray for everyone who suffers from criminal acts.

Let's all pray for the Rodney Graham family, the man who died in the Douglas County Jail while the jail staff watched him die in agony over 4 days.

The Grand Jury didn't like that too much. They want the investigation to go higher up the ladder.

Sheriff Miller may yet have to answer for that death.

Read about it in the Sentinel and on the Patch.

Bruce is incorrect this county is in good hands and is safer than any other metro county.

I believe Sheriff Miller is managing this county just fine! If you dont like it, then move away! Im sick and tired or people's negative comments towards him.... you are not in his position nor have you EVER been in his position so im pretty sure you have no idea what your talking about. And that may be "your opinion" but this is mine, and your right... come election time people will stand up for who they believe in and trust me it WILL be him. How about worrying about these poor people who just lost a loved one, that just goes to show that the politics are all thats on your mind!!

Glad to know that Douglas County is known for seeking the death penalty. Maybe it will send a message to the rest of the illegals. He deserves what he gets.

I hope that Baltodano will fully pay for the murder of my Uncle. Uncle Don was a wonderful man who did anything he could to help someone. He was a kind, honest, Christian man, and he did not deserve to die the way he did. I believe that Baltodano deserves the death penalty and to suffer as he made my uncle suffer "to death".
I am grateful to his wife who did call to alert authorities, that they were able to apprehend him quickly. Most of all, I' grateful that I'll see my uncle again one day. My family is appreciative for all of the kind thoughts & prayers, and I do ask that you will continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you.

I personally know the Baltodano's family and my condolences to the Peden's family. Ftomorrow what I heard Don was a great man. Now We can't say that the whole Baltodano's family are guilty because of what David did, neither his wife or kids are guilty and these poor kids should not be judge for his dad's actions. He has three little kids that right now won't understand what happening and it's not right for people to star pointing fingers at them. So to that person that said said that his whole family should be sent to another country let me tell u something, David is not a US citizen but his kids and wife are and they don't have to pay for his actions!

Instead of tomorrow it should've said from

It seems that everyone is focused on each other and not the true matter at hand the fact that this man was murdered in our town doesnt matter who did it our were there from. It's that fact that people are doing it in our town!! What are you goin to do to help our neighbor!!!! Have you even thought of that

Nice little debate going on about this.

As for the sheriff not being responsible for the death of Rodney Graham in the Douglas County Jail (see Tammie Cook comments), the Douglas County Grand Jury that just met did not agree with that. The Grand Jury wants investigations higher up the ladder. Ultimately, the sheriff is responsible for everything that happens in the sheriff's department. He is the chief administrator.

This has been on the front page of the Sentinel repeatedly and in the Patch.

Of course the sheriff is responsible.

The sheriff decides where the patrols are in the county. The sheriff decides what kind of training the deputies have.

Hey, if this man's papers are not up to date, why didn't law enforcement catch it?

If they had caught it and tried to deport him then some people would have been protesting about this poor hard working man being taken from his wife and kids. Would you be one of those people?

People seem to think there's a special "law enforcement" agency that looks at peoples' immigration status. There isn't. If he has phoney I.D. (probable), or is using his real name but unemployed, and not receiving any kind of government aid, then nobody would check his immigration paper status. If his car is registered in his wife's name, then nobody would check there, either. Depending on how long he's been here, he may be driving on an out of state license - or may even be driving on an expired license. If he has had a job for many years, and his papers expire, it's possible that nobody in the personnel department of his employer would notice that his immigration papers expired - they should, but they might not. There are many ways around expired immigration papers. There is NO magical law enforcement agency going door to door to see if their papers have expired. The issue of illegals in the U.S. is HUGE; much larger and harder to handle than anyone realizes; illegal aliens have a network of sources and resources and are more "canny" and clever than you could ever imagine. Thankfully, most illegals are NOT murderers and criminals. There are some that are, but most are truly hard working people who try to stay AWAY from the law; not drop themselves into the laps of law enforcement, like Baltodano has done. And his wife needs to be commended, not vilified, for NOT standing by her man. She called the cops on him. MOST important - remember- deep, deep sympathy for the Pedens.

This is exactly why i am now glad i moved away to Fl Douglasville has gotten so bad and a very scary place to raise a family and even to go back to visit. I knew this poor mans son my Brother knew him as well. This is terrible and my heart goes out to Bryan and his family. May God be with you all.

Depending on who you ask... either Douglas County is the most unsafe place to live or the safest place to live. We either have too many law enforcement officers or too little. Either crime is under control or we need to double the jail capacity.

Perhaps PATCH could do a report on the crime rate in DC over the past several years. If crime is under control why do they need 1500 beds at the new jail? If crime is out of control what is being done to prevent crime? With the drop in DC population I would expect to see the crime rate down also. If crime rates have increased then the S.O. needs to provide answers why!

DCSO is one of the most well funded and staffed departments in GA. Crime rate should be on a decline. Not to mention the Douglasville Police presence in 50% of the county. It was said that DC does have one of the highest per capita law enforcement staff in Ga. If more personnel = less crime then the stats will indicate this.

Perhaps Sheriff Miller will provide the crime stats for us.

There is something wrong here, Tony. It is your information. Cobb County Jail has 3100 beds not counting its work camp. The source of this information is directly from Sheriff Neil Warren.

Cobb also has an additional 384 beds in their work release program.

Bruce,

Wasn't there a recent news story about how the Douglas County Sheriff's Office was complaining about having no budget for new cop cars? A deputy recently told me that they only have one car for the area bordered by Douglas Blvd/Hwy 5/Hwy 166 and Chapel Hill Rd. As a former Deputy Sheriff, I have seen entire police departments for areas smaller than that.

If the Sheriff's Office gets 40% of the county budget and they got $150 Million for that joke of a new jail, I'd sure like to know where the money is going. With that much cash flying around, there seems to be no reason for lacking funds for new cars. It kind of smells like another ballot measure for more "public safety" taxes is on it's way. Maybe an independent audit of the Sheriff's Department is in order.

If the U.S. Department of Justice conducts an independent audit and finds nothing wrong, then there is no harm / no foul. it could just be a case of bad cash management.

It also hurts the county's budget every time the City of Douglasville annexes potential cash cows in the county's area of coverage. It leaves the county to patrol areas where there is little tax revenue.

Just my 2 cents...

In all fairness, the sheriff himself cannot be aware of every jail issue in real time. That's typically what the jail command staff is for. It seems to be a departmental failure, not necessarily a failure on the part of the sheriff personally. Let's not forget the many things that DCSO and Sheriff Miller are doing RIGHT. There are plenty of bad guys in prison because DCSO investigators really do get it done.

The money issue is the 10,000 pound elephant that is running around the room smashing things while everyone stays quiet. If DCSO wasn't invisible in my neighborhood, I wouldn't roll my eyes so much when they have a hundred million dollars plus 40% of the budget handed to them. With that kind of cash, DCSO should be like Douglasville PD. DPD has professional cops, good equipment and amazing coverage, exactly how it should be.

From a citizen's point of view (mine), it appears that DCSO is getting tons of funding, yet they remain undermanned and under-equipped. Hmmm...Just where IS all of that cash going? There may be a perfectly good explanation.

It is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty BUT in douglasville the people that are supposed to protect us the police department are so corrupt how can you believe them.IF the man is innocent BUT they want him to be guilty then they will make sure he looks guilty .because it makes them look better to have found the person.It makes people feel better about the department if they have someone in custody.If YOU have never experienced the corruption in douglasville then that is great for you.If you know someone in the department you can get away with serious stuff.Like my step son he molested my daughter when she was three years old .He admitted it and was charged three or four years later he was caught with child porn and then busted for drugs and stealing from bank machines this man has never went to court.He has damaged this little girl and ruined this family .He has so far not paid for his crime.When I called Douglas county they told me that his case was not going to trial it had been put on a dead docket.He is currently working at Jenkins Barber Shop in Douglasville.How do you commit these types crimes and some judge Jusr let him go.WHERE is the justice for this lite girl.His name is Chris Jenkins. Do not let him around your children.I am still hoping that the DA will do the right thing and bring justice to my daughter.She feels like everyone has taken HIS side over her.She is and was innocent SHe was only three.I

Judy,

In reading your rendition of the events that happened to your daughter, I am amazed that nothing was done. I am one of the ones who has never had an issue with law enforcement in DC but I do not understand how a three year old or anyone for that matter could be molested and the perpetrator not be in jail. Have you spoken to the DA yourself? If I were you and I didn't get a satisfactory answer I would go higher. I am so sorry for your family and you daughter. I hope she is getting the mental health assistance she needs for the trauma she endured.