It was a killing spree like no other here in rural south Georgia. A former Alabama truck driver, William Howard Putnam walked up to the car where William Hodges was sitting. Putnam shot Hodges with a .38 caliber revolver.

Later that night Putnam approached a car with David Hardin, Katie Back and their three children and a niece, returning from a Florida vacation. Putnam killed Hardin, then demanded that Back come with him. When she refused, Putnam killed Back.

Witnesses, including the niece gave a description of Putnam and his truck, which police found in another rest stop in Dooly County. A search of the truck turned up the murder weapon and personal items belonging to Hodges were also found.

Putnam was executed with a lethal injection