Podcast Summary: Up and Vanished Weekly | MURDERED: Katie Janness

Podcast: Up and Vanished
Hosts: Payne Lindsey & Maggie Freeling
Guest: Vince Velasquez (Retired Atlanta Homicide Detective)
Episode Date: October 1, 2025

Overview

In this compelling episode of Up and Vanished Weekly, hosts Maggie Freeling and Payne Lindsey dive deep into the still-unsolved, grisly 2021 murder of Katie Janness and her dog Bowie in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Through investigative storytelling and a lengthy interview with retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velasquez, the episode reconstructs the events of the night, sifts through possible theories, and probes the forensics, suspect pool, and chilling lack of evidence. The episode captures the heartbreak of those closest to Katie and the overwhelming fear and frustration hanging over the Atlanta community.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Who Was Katie Janness? (07:16–08:27)

• Katie, a bartender and singer-songwriter, was remembered as “one of a kind,” “intelligent, kind, humble, and beautiful”—deeply loved by her partner, Emma Clark.
• The couple lived with their pets (Tori, Fig, and Bowie) near Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, often described as a safe, inclusive, and lively area.

2. Timeline & Discovery (04:25–06:28)

• July 2021: Katie meets Emma at Henry’s Tavern, walks their dog Bowie, and plans to return after Emma’s shift.
• After midnight: Emma can’t reach Katie, pings her phone, and discovers a gruesome scene just inside the park entrance: Bowie, fatally stabbed, and Katie, stabbed dozens of times.
• 01:10am: Emma calls 911; police rush to the park, shocked by the public and excessively violent nature of the crime.

3. Examination of the Crime (08:27–12:13, 21:23–25:55, 31:31–37:48)

• Autopsy Findings:
  • Katie suffered 40-50 stab wounds to her face, neck, and torso, with notable “overkill.”
  • The word “FAT” was carved into her torso, raising questions of intent or possible message.
  • Her left breast was nearly severed, indicating additional depravity or a possible ritualistic aspect.
• Dog Bowie: Also stabbed; police retrieved DNA from Bowie’s mouth and paws (results not publicly disclosed).
• Lack of Surveillance: Security cameras in the park were out of order; only street cameras captured Katie walking with Bowie around 12:09am, the last confirmed sighting.
• Small Window: Attack likely occurred between 12:20am and 1:00am.
• No Signs of Robbery or Sexual Assault: The brutality suggests a personal, rage-driven motive or potentially a psychopathic, ritualized killing.

Quote:

“This doesn’t just appear to be random. So the community thought maybe a scorned or jealous lover, or maybe someone angry that she was gay, someone who hated her lifestyle. Was it a hate crime? Or maybe it was the person closest to her.”
— Maggie Freeling (10:01)

4. Suspect Pool & Investigative Angles (15:27–19:19, 29:00–31:51, 39:25–41:11)

• Immediate Scrutiny: Emma, Katie’s partner, was intensely investigated early on but appears to have a solid alibi and no clear motive. She has not been cleared and remains targeted by public suspicion, despite timeline inconsistencies.
• Park Habitués: Detective canvassed homeless encampments and questioned regulars; no suspicious activity found.
• Stranger vs. Acquaintance: Theories range from a stranger suffering mental illness to someone familiar with Katie and her routines, with the intimate violence and the presence of the dog suggesting possible knowledge.
• Dog’s Role: Attack on a woman walking a pit bull further suggests familiarity (“That also makes me think maybe this is someone who knew Bowie.” — Maggie Freeling, 28:26).

Quote:

“It’s my opinion that there’s no way the assailant could not have been drenched in blood … So, would he have gotten on public transportation? Likely not … Did he have a bike somewhere in the bushes and got on it and drove away?”
— Vince Velasquez (23:03)

• Psychological Profiling: Carvings, mutilation, and the time spent all indicate deep rage, possible ritual, and a killer with either personal grievance or significant psychological disturbance.
• Pattern or Serial Behavior: No similar cases found locally or nationwide, possibly ruling out a serial predator.

5. Challenges Facing the Investigation (17:19, 12:13, 39:25)

• Perfect Storm of Obstacles:
  • Park security cameras malfunctioning
  • No clear physical evidence/fingerprints at the scene
  • Insufficient DNA from the dog for CODIS entry
  • No cooperating witnesses; park busy even at night, but no one saw or heard anything
• Community Response: The city built a memorial bench for Katie and Bowie, and PETA offered $10,000 of a now $25,000 reward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Attack:

  “With that amount of stab wounds ... there’s no way this assailant could not have been drenched in blood wherever this person went after the attack.”
  — Vince Velasquez (23:03)

• On Motive & Method:

  “Most people that I’ve had where someone is murdered, there’s an underlying motive. ... As soon as the resistance ends, the killer runs away. ... This particular case, the time it took to do all of this damage is pretty significant.”
  — Vince Velasquez (32:20)

• On the Word Carved Into Katie’s Body:

  “It spells ‘fat,’ but it may not be fat. It could be initials for something totally different. ... There is a psychology involved in this.”
  — Vince Velasquez (34:41)

• On the Unique Nature of the Case:

  “It’s a solitary case. We haven’t seen anything like it before or even after, and it was targeted.”
  — Vince Velasquez (41:11)

• On Community Impact:

  “It appears Katie Jeanness was doing everything right ... It’s odd no one heard her screaming or barking or saw any commotion, despite multiple people leaving or entering the park at the time.”
  — Maggie Freeling (41:51)

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• Katie’s Last Night & Crime Scene Detailed (04:25–06:28)
• Autopsy & Forensics (08:27–10:01, 21:23–25:55, 31:31–34:41)
• Emma's Experience & Public Reaction (10:01–12:13)
• Retired Detective Vince Velasquez Interview (13:57–41:11; deep-dive at 17:09, 21:23, 29:00, 31:31, 34:09, 39:25)
• Maggie & Vince on Motive and Psychology (31:31–37:48)

Conclusion & Call to Action

The Katie Janness case remains unsolved and active. Authorities and experts agree that someone close to Katie—or someone with deep psychological disturbance and possible knowledge of her routine—may be responsible. The lack of evidence has stymied the investigation, sparking calls for technological advances and fresh leads.

Public help is still urgently needed:

• $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
• Contact Atlanta Police Department Homicide Unit: 404-546-4235
• Or call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (anonymous).

Final thought (Emma, via hosts):

"She was very confident. She felt safe being in Midtown and that in her final moments, like, that was taken from her. And that bothers me the most. I hope they find them. I hope they get what they deserve." (42:35)

For more:

• Follow Up and Vanished Weekly for future cases
• To submit tips or case suggestions, find contact details at Discord and Instagram: @avweekly
• Vince Velasquez’s new series: Murder Mind on YouTube