37-Year-Old Father and 9-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Car at Brooklet City Park

What started as a joyful plan to commemorate a grandfather’s birthday turned into a horrifying nightmare that forever shattered a Georgia family.

Nine-year-old Emily Mayo never arrived at the gathering. Instead, she was discovered dead in a car at Brooklet City Park—her life tragically ended in a violent act perpetrated by the person entrusted with her safety.

The shocking revelation has left family members and an entire community in shock, grappling with the incomprehensible tragedy of a loss that defies comprehension. 

The joyous occasion of a birthday celebration took a tragic turn when a young girl and her father were discovered dead in a parked car. 

What was intended to be a happy family celebration turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when a young girl tragically did not arrive at her grandfather’s birthday party. Instead, her lifeless body was found alongside her father’s in a parked car—taken by the very person meant to protect her—leaving her family consumed by a grief that words could not express.

On May 28, 2025, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced its involvement in the investigation of a tragic event that took place in Bulloch County the previous night. 

At approximately 8 p.m. on May 27, a distress call was received reporting a child who was unresponsive inside a vehicle at Brooklet City Park. Law enforcement officials from the Brooklet Police Department and the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office responded swiftly to the scene, where they were confronted with a shocking and disturbing sight. 

Inside the car, they discovered a young girl in the backseat, lifeless from a gunshot wound.

In the driver’s seat, there was a man who had passed away, with a firearm resting on his lap. Police apprehended him as 37-year-old James Lee Mayo. The child was her daughter, Emily Grace Mayo.

Both individuals were taken to the gbi medical examiner’s office in Pooler for autopsies. However, the narrative didn’t conclude with the crime scene—it ignited a wave of grief and astonishment throughout the community. 

Emily’s aunt, Amber Healy, launched a gofundme to help cover the costs of the funeral, initially aiming to raise \$10,000. Gifts rapidly exceeded $29,000. In the charity event, Amber recalled Emily as a radiant, joyful individual with a smile that could light up a room. She had a passion for dancing, singing, playing outdoors, and enjoying the company of animals, cousins, and friends. Roblox was one of her favorite pastimes. Amber wrote, ‘we loved her more than words can describe,’ expressing the profound impact she had on their lives. ‘the world lost a shining light.’ 

Emily had completed third grade and was eagerly anticipating the start of fourth grade. She possessed ambitious aspirations and a confident, assertive demeanor that foreshadowed a promising future. However, those dreams were abruptly taken away—by someone who was meant to protect her.

In a heartfelt message, amber expressed gratitude to the community for their backing while addressing and dispelling misunderstandings in the media. She mentioned that despite media outlets referring to her as Emily James Mayo, he did not define her. ‘He didn’t deserve her,’ Amber wrote. ‘He was supposed to bring her to our dad’s birthday party.’ Instead, he drove to that park and took her away from us. 

On Facebook, Amber posted a tribute filled with photos of Emily throughout the years, from her early childhood to recent snapshots, and recounted the terror of that night. She had been on the phone with her sister, Courtney (Emily’s mother), as she arrived at the scene and was shocked to find out the unimaginable. 

‘i held my 12-year-old daughter as she screamed all night for her cousin,’ amber shared 

Amber explicitly stated that there was no mourning for James Mayo. ‘He was selfish and evil,’ she wrote. ‘We don’t grieve for him.’ He is not longed for. He accepts complete accountability.

Emily’s passing had a profound impact on her relatives. Tasheina Canty-White, her music teacher, expressed her deep sadness on social media, sharing photos and cherished memories. She recalled a necklace emily had made for her and how the child’s enthusiasm inspired her to take a photo, despite not feeling camera-ready. That necklace, now treasured, had become a symbol of Emily’s selfless nature. 

Just days before the tragedy, tasheina had watched emily joyfully sing ‘party in the usa’ at a school karaoke event—never imagining it would be the last time she’d see her.’she was an angel,’ tasheina wrote.’she touched my heart, and i will carry her memory always.’. 

Emily was born on October 20, 2015, in Statesboro, Georgia. She attended Brooklet Elementary School, where she was well-known for her kindness, sense of humor, and vibrant personality. She received academic recognition and was recently honored with the ‘future influencer’ award for her optimistic outlook and perseverance. Her preferred color was blue, and her favorite word was’slay.’. 

She is survived by her heartbroken mother, courtney badgett, her younger sister, addilyn williams, her grandparents frank and pam badgett and wayne and carrie mayo, her great-grandmother, joby snelling, her aunts and uncles, including amber and matthew healy,. A large number of relatives, close kin, and acquaintances. She also leaves behind her cherished pets, Tank and Ozzie. 

Emily passed away before her great-grandfather, Ron Snelling, and two cousins, Grayson and Gabriel Mayo. 

Joiner-anderson funeral home & crematory is responsible for organizing funeral services in statesboro. In addition to the candlelight vigil, a memorial service will be held at brooklet park to pay tribute and remember her. 

The gbi’s ongoing investigation into this tragic incident is still in progress. 

Result: 

The untimely demise of Emily Grace Mayo has created an irreplaceable emptiness in the hearts of her loved ones, friends, and the community she was a part of. What was supposed to be a happy family gathering turned into a heartbreaking event—a life filled with hope and potential was tragically cut short.

As the investigation progresses, the community grieves not only the tragic death of a lively young girl but also the betrayal that led to it. Emily’s memory endures through the love she instilled, the smiles she spread, and the dreams she carried within her. In her memory, those who knew her pledged to honor her spirit—not by dwelling on the tragedy that led to her demise, but by celebrating the joy and brilliance she brought to her life.