Justice just took a very long time to arrive in a courtroom in Lawrenceville, but it finally showed up. Honestly, if you’ve been following the news in Georgia over the last few years, the name Edward Smith probably rings a bell for all the wrong reasons. There are actually a couple of high-profile cases involving that name in the local legal system, but the big Edward Rodley Smith Jr Gwinnett County update involves a heavy sentence handed down in late 2025.
Basically, a jury decided they didn't buy the "self-defense" story he was selling. After only 90 minutes of deliberating—which is incredibly fast for a murder trial—they found him guilty.
What Really Happened with Edward Rodley Smith Jr
The whole thing started back in October 2022. It was a Friday evening on Stone Mountain Highway, a road usually just clogged with commuter traffic, not crime scenes. Breana Marie Rogers, a 33-year-old woman, was staying at a hotel in Stone Mountain with Smith. Police reports and later trial testimony painted a pretty grim picture of what happened inside that room. Rogers was trying to leave. She was trying to get away from him.
She didn't make it.
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Smith followed her in his BMW. People called 911 because they saw a domestic dispute happening right on the side of the road. One witness even heard Rogers scream, "I'm tired of this!" Not long after that, the calls changed from "disturbing the peace" to "shots fired." Smith’s BMW crashed into a construction site near the 5100 block of U.S. 78. Rogers was found dead outside the wrecked car.
The Trial and the Self-Defense Claim
When the case finally went to trial in November 2025, Smith took the stand. That’s always a gamble. He told the jury that he only shot Rogers because he was scared for his life. His story? She was reaching for his wallet and he thought she had a gun.
The evidence didn't back him up.
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Medical examiners testified that Rogers had been shot four times. Three of those shots were in her back. The fourth was in the back of her head. It’s hard to argue you’re acting in self-defense against someone who is facing away from you. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorneys Diamond Johnson and Don Geary, argued that Smith took advantage of Rogers and killed her specifically because she was trying to escape his control.
The Final Sentence
Gwinnett County Superior Court didn't go easy on him. After the "guilty" verdict for malice murder, the judge sentenced the 39-year-old Smith to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson released a statement shortly after, saying the verdict provides a sense of closure for Rogers' family. It’s a permanent end to a case that had been hanging over the community for three years.
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Other Edward Smith Cases in Gwinnett
It's kinda confusing because "Edward Smith" is a common name. If you’re looking for a different Edward Smith Gwinnett County update, you might be thinking of a much older case that recently resurfaced in the Georgia Supreme Court.
There is an Edward Smith who was convicted back in 2003 for felony murder involving his infant son. That case, Smith v. State, saw a significant update in late 2022 when the Supreme Court of Georgia vacated a lower court's ruling. Smith's lawyers are arguing that "shaken baby syndrome" science has changed so much that he deserves a new trial. As of early 2026, that legal battle over medical testimony is still winding through the system, though it is entirely separate from the 2022 domestic murder case.
Actionable Insights for Following Gwinnett Cases
If you are tracking these specific legal updates or want to stay informed on Gwinnett County court proceedings, here is what you can actually do:
- Check the Gwinnett Courts Portal: You can look up case numbers (like the Rodley Smith conviction) through the Gwinnett County Clerk of Superior Court website to see filing dates and sentencing documents.
- Monitor the Georgia Supreme Court Docket: For the older Edward Smith "shaken baby" case, the most reliable updates come from the official Supreme Court of Georgia opinions page.
- Victim Services: If you or someone you know is in a situation similar to what Breana Rogers faced, the Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office provides domestic violence resources and temporary protective orders.
The Rodley Smith case is effectively closed now that the life sentence has been issued. He'll spend the rest of his days in the Georgia Department of Corrections system. For the families involved, the focus now shifts from the courtroom to the long process of healing.