During Charles Postell’s investigation of the murder of Harrison Mobley while a suspect in Sheriff Bud Williford’s custody, he enlisted the services of State Medical Examiner Joe Burton in Atlanta to assist in reviewing the autopsy reports/evidence and revealed the incompetency of Larry Howard’s investigation
Investigative journalist Charles Postell, who was also state editor of The Albany Herald, kept files thick with details from his many and varied sources. This hand-drawn map shows the location of a back-woods gambling shack where Mitchell County Sheriff Bud Williford was known to be paid off to allow its continued play, but also joined the all-night tables.
Article by Charles Postell for The Albany Herald regarding pressure placed on Governor to look into the Mitchell County killings by Sheriff Williford
Charles Postell’s investigation of Sheriff Bud Williford was merciless, which led to the exposure of other crooked law enforcement, such as GBI Region 9’s Thomasville head Thomas “Buck” Bentley, who was one of MItchell County Sheriff Williford’s long-time cronies.
Sheriff Bud Williford had beaten a woman severely with his cane one day when she went into his office. The sheriff’s immunity caused the black community to gather, 300-strong, discussing how they would protest – by boycotting businesses
These documents from Charles Postell’s investigation helped Georgia’s medical examiner Joe Burton to prove Sheriff Bud Williford had in fact shot suspect Mobley while handcuffed in the backseat of Williford’s patrol car.
Obtaining the autopsy reports from the crime lab, Charles Postell then took it to state medical examiner Joe Burton.
When Charles Postell’s magazine Georgia Monthly was circulating, the public received it with mixed critiques.
Charles Postell’s coverage of Sheriff Williford’s antics in Mitchell County caused death threats to be a natural part of life in the Postell’s home
For Charles Postell’s magazine, Georgia Monthly, he featured his investigation of Williford and the work of Dr. Joe Burton, who had helped uncover the small-town law enforcement’s corruption, and the flawed coroner system in Georgia.