Charges Dropped Against Angel Bumpass

Angel Bumpass after she had just learned of her acquittal.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A woman who had been convicted of first degree murder in the death of a Chattanooga man.

Angel Bumpass was only 13 years old in 20-09 when 68 year old Franklin Bonner was found murdered in his home on Enterprise Lane in Chattanooga.

A decade nearly went by before two suspects, Bumpass and Mallory Vaughn, were arrested in connection with the murder.

Vaughn had been acquitted on his charges, but Bumpass was convicted in 20-19 of First Degree Murder.

But after Hamilton County Judge Tom Greenholtz granted Bumpass a new trial last year, it changed the trajectory of the case.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp moved to dismiss the charges against her Tuesday in court.

General Wamp said while fingerprints on the duct tape that covered Franklin Bonner connected Bumpass to the scene, it seemed very unlikely that a 13 year old Bumpass could have participated in the killing of Bonner itself.

She said, “The nature of the offense, the way that Mr. Bonner was duck-taped and killed, the ransacking of the home. In the State’s opinion, it is virtually impossible that a 13 year old girl could have done this alone.”

General Wamp says that Bumpass passed a polygraph test conducted by a law enforcement polygrapher, and further analysis by the T-B-I backed up the results of the test.

Bumpass’ defense attorney, William Massey, says that polygraph tests have increased in reliability.

Massey said, “Those new polygraphs are enhanced, they don’t even call them polygraphs anymore. They call them psycho psychological detection of deception examination tests, and all of the federal alphabet soup of agencies use them.”

For Angel Bumpass and her team, today’s ruling has brought them immeasurable relief.

Bumpass said, “I’m grateful for everybody who has supported me, I appreciate everybody who has supported me, I appreciate everybody who has supported me and everybody who is continuing to support me. I am grateful for the entire experience. I feel blessed.”

Bumpass added, “Everything was very stressful so, but I’m just trying to get back to my normal life.”

For General Wamp, the work to solve murder of Franklin Bonner is far from over.

She said, “As hard as it has been to explain this to the family to Franklin Bonner, the State believes, and I believe, in the deepest part of my soul, that Ms. Bumpass serving a lifetime sentence for this offense is not justice.”

General Wamp also said they re-interviewed Mallory Vaughn who did not give them any new information on the case.

Bumpass says she is moving out of the state to start a new and normal life with her family as she finishes school.