In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: On April 16, 2017 — Easter Sunday — Janell Carwell gathered with family and friends to celebrate the holiday and her 16th birthday, which was the following day. On April 18, Janell’s mom Tanya Tripp called 911 to report her daughter and husband missing, saying they had been gone since April 17.

Janell and her stepfather, Leon Tripp, disappeared and were nowhere to be found. Investigators and community members immediately got involved in trying to find the two of them.

Weeks went by before detectives caught a break and got a tip that Leon was spotted in Atlanta — but without Janell. They also learned he has a criminal past, and he and Tanya even got married while he was still behind bars.

Law enforcement officials started noticing inconsistencies in Tanya’s statements, too.

Then, something strange happened. On May 23, 2017, U.S. Marshals went to a U-Haul facility in Atlanta to arrest Leon. However, he wasn’t alone. Tanya was also there.
The two were arrested, but the case was far from closed. It then morphed into a murder investigation.

March 8, 2018, 11 months after Tanya reported her missing, someone called 911 and said they found human remains in the backyard of their property. The remains were positively identified as Janell.

Leon Tripp was charged with two counts of murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, cruelty to children, and concealing the death of another. Tanya faces charges of second-degree murder, concealing the death of another, and hindering the apprehension of a fugitive. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Leon.

In 2020, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to present evidence to show that Tanya and Leon allegedly met with someone and conspired with them to kill Janell. Leon and Tanya have both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them as their cases make their way through the justice system.

Let’s take a look back at the case of a young and promising girl whose birthday was filled with tragedy instead of celebration.

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31 thoughts on “Stepfather and mom accused of killing teen right after 16th birthday”
  1. Sounds like the man molested her and they were afraid that she was going to say something and then she told her to take her daughter in the back and bury her after she told the mither what he did to her. They should search their house for evidence. Also they didn't want to mention what happened because they would've tested her body for rape. These stupid woman would do anything to keep a man knowing that they can't keep a man permanently anyway because he won't stay, there is always a better looking woman. Now you see why she said he took her phone instead of his because it would be tracked down.

  2. These parents are disgusting, how could u put a random stranger over your blood. I remember reading about a step dad that went to jail over getting his young step daughter pregnant, an still the wife stood by his side or the mom an boyfriend that beat up her teen son became she got a new man.

  3. He married the mother just to have a place to go when he was paroled a common tactic. Tanya taking off her wigs putting on a head wrap to pretend she had brain cancer- besides her supposed lung cancer. My heart goes out to poor Janelle- this sweet intelligent girl didn't feel she had anyone to turn to when she had an uncle and teachers who loved her
    Her wicked lying mother and stepfather deserve the worst.

  4. maybe rue daughter and step dad used that as an excuse to run away together or have an affair and mum found out and told hubby to kill her or he is out!! why else would she leave willingly 1am with him doesnt make sense…maybe he was grooming her from a young age and at 16 had her under his control and mumma new was jelous instead up upset and angry.

  5. This reminds me of the video where the teenage daughter is recording herself telling her mother (apparently she’s told her before) that mother’s husband keeps coming into her room at night. The mother tells her she’s lying, repeats over and over “He’s a good man.”, refuses to believe her and even says at one point that the daughter shouldn’t be dressing like she does.

  6. My dad cast me aside for my stepmom. It f'ed me up utterly. They didn't kill me though, so I guess I have that going for me. Still, parents putting azz over their kids is more prevalent than I think most would imagine. The wicked stepmother trope is there for a reason. Also, one study conducted of adult women showed that 1 in 6 with a stepfather were m0lested by him, so there's that, too.

  7. That her man her mother was with was more important than her child. I can’t stand heffas like this. That poor young lady didn’t deserve this. I wish she could have gotten emancipated and moved out. The death penalty is appropriate for both of these evil monsters. Her mother should never see the free world ever again. She was jealous of her own daughter who wanted to be a doctor and both of these evil demonic monsters took it away.

  8. Janelle and step daddy had a relationship going on, they prolly tried to run away together until she told him she was preggo…the momma didn't know where they were but she was mad at the daughter anyway from being with the step dad

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