Justice is rarely a fast-moving machine. But in the case of the Edward Rodley Smith Jr Gwinnett County verdict, the jury didn't need much time at all. After a trial that laid bare a harrowing sequence of events from late 2022, it took a group of Gwinnett citizens just about 90 minutes to decide the fate of the 39-year-old Stone Mountain man.
Life without parole.
That was the final word handed down by the judge following Smith’s conviction for the malice murder of 33-year-old Breana Marie Rogers. If you’ve been following the local headlines, you know this wasn't just another crime blotter entry. It was a case that involved a high-speed chase, multiple 911 calls from terrified witnesses, and a defense strategy that basically tried to flip the script on who was actually the victim. It didn't work.
The Night Everything Went Wrong on Highway 78
To understand why the jury moved so quickly, you have to look at the sheer amount of evidence the prosecution piled up. This wasn't a "whodunnit." It was a "why did you do it?"
The horror started on October 7, 2022. According to investigators and trial testimony, Rogers and Smith had been staying at a hotel in the Stone Mountain area. At some point, things turned south. Rogers tried to leave—she was literally running for her life. Smith didn't let her go. He jumped into his BMW and chased her down.
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Think about that for a second.
You’re driving down Stone Mountain Highway (U.S. 78) on a Friday night, and you see a BMW driving like a maniac, involving a domestic dispute that spills out onto the shoulder of one of the busiest roads in the county. That’s exactly what witnesses saw. People started calling 911. One witness told the court they heard Rogers scream, "I'm tired of this!" It was a final cry for autonomy that Smith met with violence.
The BMW eventually wrecked at a construction site in the 5100 block of the highway. But the crash wasn't the end. Witnesses reported seeing a man—later identified as Edward Rodley Smith Jr.—firing a gun at the scene. When the police arrived, they found Rogers dead. She hadn't just been shot; she had been executed. The medical examiner’s report was grim: three gunshots to her back and one to the back of her head.
The "Self-Defense" Argument That Fell Flat
When Smith took the stand, he tried to sell a story of self-defense. Honestly, it’s a tactic we see a lot, but the details here were particularly tough for a jury to swallow.
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Smith claimed he was the one in danger. He told the court that Rogers had a gun and that he feared for his life because she was "reaching for his wallet."
The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorneys Diamond Johnson and Don Geary, didn't buy it. Neither did the jury. There was no evidence Rogers was armed. There was, however, plenty of evidence that she was shot while trying to escape. When you shoot someone four times—mostly in the back—it’s a hard sell to convince twelve people that you were the one being hunted.
The Gwinnett County District Attorney, Patsy Austin-Gatson, was pretty blunt about it after the verdict. She pointed out that Smith took advantage of Rogers and killed her specifically because she was trying to get away from him. That "power and control" dynamic is a hallmark of domestic violence cases, and it clearly resonated with the jurors who sat through the testimony.
Why This Verdict Matters for Gwinnett
This case hit a nerve in the Lawrenceville and Stone Mountain communities for a few reasons. First, the public nature of the crime was jarring. This wasn't behind closed doors; it happened in front of commuters on U.S. 78.
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Secondly, the speed of the verdict—that 90-minute window—is a massive indicator of how "open and shut" the evidence actually was. Usually, in a murder trial, you expect hours or days of deliberation. When a jury comes back that fast, they are sending a message.
Key Details from the Trial:
- The Vehicle: A BMW owned by Smith was central to the chase and the final crash site.
- The Witnesses: Multiple 911 callers provided real-time accounts of the altercation on the highway.
- The Sentence: Life in prison without the possibility of parole. In Georgia, that means exactly what it says. There is no "good behavior" release for this.
- The Charges: Smith was convicted of malice murder, which requires the state to prove he had the deliberate intention to kill.
Nuance in the Legal Process
It’s worth noting that Smith’s legal team likely looked for any opening to mitigate the charges—perhaps down to voluntary manslaughter—by arguing "sudden passion." But the timeline of the chase—the 30 minutes between her leaving the hotel and her being found dead—suggests a level of pursuit that fits the "malice" description perfectly.
Also, for those tracking Gwinnett's legal landscape, you've likely seen other "Edward Smiths" in the system recently. There was a high-profile case involving a Danyel Smith (sometimes confused in searches) regarding a shaken baby syndrome conviction that the Georgia Supreme Court recently ordered a new trial for in late 2025. But make no mistake: Edward Rodley Smith Jr. is the individual tied to the Highway 78 shooting, and his verdict is definitive.
What Happens Now?
For the family of Breana Rogers, the verdict offers a sense of closure, though obviously, it doesn't bring her back. For the rest of us, it's a reminder of the lethal reality of domestic escalation.
If you or someone you know is in a situation that feels like it’s spiraling, Gwinnett County has specific resources. You don't have to wait for a "Highway 78" moment.
Actionable Steps and Resources:
- Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV): They have a 24-hour crisis line and a massive presence in Gwinnett. If you’re feeling trapped, call them.
- The Georgia Empowerment Network: Useful for legal advocacy if you’re trying to navigate the court system for protective orders.
- VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday): For the Rogers family and others involved, this service tracks Smith’s status in the Georgia Department of Corrections to ensure they are notified of any movements or status changes.
The Edward Rodley Smith Jr Gwinnett County verdict stands as a heavy chapter in the county's recent legal history. It’s a case defined by a woman's attempt to choose her own path and a man's violent refusal to let her walk it. With Smith now facing a lifetime behind bars, the legal proceedings have reached their end, leaving only the legacy of a life cut short and a community that watched it happen in real-time.