An 83-year-old woman from Cobb County, Georgia, found herself wrongfully detained in a local jail for six hours after her name was mistakenly linked to a drug trafficking case.
The confusion began when a police officer ran her license plate while she was on her way to the store in mid-June. The officer discovered a warrant for meth trafficking under her name and arrested her.
The Terrifying Experience for Alice Cordell
Alice Cordell, who had never been involved in any criminal activity, was placed in a holding cell, where she spent hours alone.
Her grandson, Jacob Cordell, shared with WSBTV that his grandmother was terrified, cold, and unsure of what was happening. Fortunately, other inmates gave Alice socks to help her stay warm while she waited in jail.
Jacob Cordell mentioned that when he tried to contact the Cobb County District Attorney’s office for answers, they refused to speak to him without a lawyer. While Alice remained behind bars, the family reached out to the defense attorney involved in the actual drug trafficking case.
To their shock, they discovered that the person listed on the case had been arrested in 2024 and had already been attending court hearings for the charges.
The Mix-Up and Discovery
The key difference between Alice and the actual defendant was a simple one-letter variation in their names. Alice Cordell and the defendant in the case had similar names, but the other woman’s name was “Alica,” not “Alice.”
Further investigation revealed that court documents had mistakenly listed Alice’s birthdate and old address, causing the confusion.
Jacob Cordell and the defense attorney informed the judge of the mistake, leading to Alice’s release. The Cobb County District Attorney’s office acknowledged the error, explaining that it was a critical mistake made by the previous administration.
District Attorney Sonya F. Allen took full responsibility for the mix-up and issued an apology, emphasizing that they would work to ensure such errors don’t happen again.
Public Apology and Accountability
In her statement, District Attorney Sonya F. Allen said, “While the mistake was not intentional, we take full responsibility for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all matters handled by this office.”
She also expressed regret for the distress caused to Alice Cordell and her family. Allen reiterated the office’s commitment to restoring integrity and accountability, ensuring that every community member is treated with the dignity they deserve.
This incident has raised concerns about the importance of thorough checks to avoid such errors, especially when it involves the wrongful detention of innocent people.