A Newton County woman who provided critical information leading to an escaped inmate's capture says Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta owes her a reward payment that remains unpaid weeks after the fugitive's arrest ended a tense regional manhunt.
Rodneyka Twilley, a Covington resident living on Green Acres Court, argues her doorbell camera footage and immediate notification to law enforcement directly resulted in authorities apprehending Timothy Allen Shane, who had escaped custody while receiving medical treatment at Grady Memorial Hospital under Rockdale County Sheriff's Office supervision.
The incident unfolded shortly after midnight on December 3 when Twilley's home security system alerted her to activity at her front entrance. A stranger had approached her residence and rang the doorbell seeking assistance during the overnight hours, prompting immediate concern about the unexpected visitor.
"This guy was dangerous. Who knows what could have happened if he came into my house. We're all happy he is off the street. However, some people could have turned a blind eye and said, 'Just ignore the ring, let him go somewhere else,' but we did make that call, and they did put it out there that there was a reward."
— Rodneyka Twilley
Twilley and her daughter immediately contacted emergency services after reviewing their security camera footage. The video captured clear images of the individual at their doorstep, providing law enforcement with crucial visual documentation of the fugitive's location and appearance.
Officers responding to Twilley's 911 call arrived swiftly and surrounded the property while conducting a search of the area. Two officers entered Twilley's home to review the security camera footage directly, using their mobile phones to record the video before Twilley sent them the complete file electronically.
Law enforcement officials subsequently confirmed the mysterious visitor was Shane, who had disappeared from custody days earlier. The 52-year-old inmate had been transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for medical care when he managed to evade his correctional supervision and flee the facility, triggering an intensive search operation spanning multiple metro Atlanta counties.
Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta had distributed flyers throughout affected communities offering up to $5,000 for information leading to Shane's capture. These reward notices encouraged residents to report suspicious activity or sightings that might help authorities locate the escaped prisoner.
Authorities apprehended Shane just hours after Twilley's tip, concluding a manhunt that had lasted nearly three days and involved law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions. The rapid resolution came after investigators received tips from multiple residents along Green Acres Court and neighboring Pennington Street off Jackson Highway.
Crime Stoppers Reward Program
How the system typically works:
Crime Stoppers organizations operate independently from law enforcement agencies, accepting anonymous tips about criminal activity. Rewards are offered for information leading to arrests or solving cases.
According to Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta's website, the organization received more than 4,100 tips during 2024. However, data about how many tips resulted in actual reward payments remains undisclosed.
The determination process for reward eligibility often involves multiple factors including tip quality, timing, and direct impact on case resolution.
Twilley maintains her surveillance footage provided the critical breakthrough investigators needed to locate and apprehend Shane. She emphasizes that the video evidence came directly from her property and led immediately to law enforcement response that resulted in the fugitive's capture.
The situation highlights broader questions about reward program administration and payment determination criteria. While Crime Stoppers organizations advertise reward amounts to encourage public cooperation with law enforcement, the actual payment process involves evaluation of each tip's contribution to case resolution.
Multiple factors complicate reward determinations when several people provide information about the same fugitive. Investigators received tips from various residents along the street where Shane was ultimately located, potentially creating ambiguity about which specific information proved most valuable to the successful apprehension.
Crime Stoppers typically evaluates tip significance based on timing, specificity, and direct connection to arrests or case resolution. Organizations must balance rewarding helpful citizens against ensuring fair distribution when multiple tips contribute to outcomes.
The Atlanta Police Foundation, which administers Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta, has not publicly addressed how many tips resulted in rewards during 2024 despite the organization receiving thousands of submissions. Representatives did not respond to inquiries about payment statistics or Twilley's specific case.
Twilley's experience raises questions about transparency in reward program operations. Citizens who provide information to law enforcement based on advertised reward offers may face uncertainty about payment eligibility criteria and decision-making processes that determine whether tips qualify for compensation.
The delayed resolution of Twilley's reward claim continues as authorities work to determine payment eligibility. Officials have not provided timelines for when decisions will be finalized regarding compensation for tips that contributed to Shane's capture.
Twilley acknowledges the community relief following Shane's apprehension while maintaining her position that advertised rewards should be honored when tips directly contribute to successful captures. She emphasizes that her decision to call authorities involved personal risk assessment about confronting a potentially dangerous individual near her home.
The case illustrates tensions inherent in Crime Stoppers programs that depend on public participation while maintaining discretion over reward distribution. Organizations must encourage tip submission through reward offers while preserving judgment about which specific information merits payment.
Shane's escape from medical custody had prompted widespread concern throughout metro Atlanta as law enforcement agencies coordinated search efforts. His eventual capture in Newton County brought closure to a situation that kept residents across multiple counties on alert for days.
Crime Stoppers programs nationwide face similar challenges balancing reward promises against practical considerations when multiple tips contribute to case resolutions. These organizations emphasize that all information helps investigators while maintaining authority to determine which specific tips warrant compensation.
For Twilley, the wait continues as Crime Stoppers evaluates her claim to the advertised $5,000 reward. She maintains that her surveillance footage and immediate notification provided the critical information that enabled Shane's swift apprehension after days of unsuccessful searching.
The situation underscores broader questions about how communities incentivize public safety cooperation while ensuring transparent, fair processes for reward distribution. As Crime Stoppers organizations rely increasingly on public tips to solve cases, clarifying payment criteria becomes essential for maintaining trust and encouraging future participation.
Neither Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta nor the Atlanta Police Foundation has provided public comment about Twilley's specific case or general policies governing reward determinations when multiple tips contribute to fugitive captures. The organization's website emphasizes that rewards are offered at the discretion of program administrators based on information value to investigations.