Cold Case: Georgia Taxi Driver’s 1998 Murder Remains Unsolved

November 2, 2024
1 min read
After 26 years, the brutal murder of John McKinnon, a 67-year-old taxi driver, remains unsolved, haunting Coffee County. Robbed of his life and belongings, McKinnon's case illustrates a chilling failure of justice. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation desperately seeks leads; will anyone step up to unveil this horrific mystery?

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seeking information in a 26-year-old murder case that has left the family of John McKinnon, a 67-year-old taxi driver from Douglas, searching for answers.

McKinnon left his home on Nov. 2, 1998, to pick up a passenger and was later found shot dead, his wallet, keys, and taxi missing.

Just The Facts: John McKinnon, who had worked as a taxi driver in Coffee County, left his home on November 2, 1998, responding to a call to pick up an unknown passenger.

Hours after he left, McKinnon’s body was discovered in a rural area about nine miles west of Douglas. The circumstances of his death point to a robbery, with his keys, wallet, and taxi stolen, but police have never identified any suspects.

TOO MANY ADS? GO AD-FREE
Did You Know?: The ads you see on this site help pay for our website and our work. However, we know some of our readers would rather pay and not see ads. For those users we offer a paid newsletter that contains our articles with no ads.
What You Get: A daily email digest of our articles in full-text with no ads.

McKinnon’s murder has haunted the Coffee County community for more than two decades, with each anniversary of his death renewing calls for justice.

Despite extensive investigation by local law enforcement and ongoing support from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the case has stalled without key evidence or witness statements to point detectives in a definitive direction.

In Context: McKinnon’s murder took place in a time when Georgia was experiencing a rise in violent crimes, especially in rural areas. His killing, however, stands out for its brutality and the mystery surrounding it.

The GBI has reopened the case several times over the years, hoping that advancements in forensic technology or new witness accounts might provide a breakthrough. As of now, however, the case remains cold.

How You Can Help: Investigators are asking the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small, that might help identify McKinnon’s killer or lead to his stolen property. The GBI has urged anyone with information about the events of that night to contact their office at 1-800-597-8477 .


Trending

Counties in The News
457
274
228
151
136
120
see more close table

Events Calendar