‘This is certainly not justice’: Elwyn Crocker Sr. pleads guilty, avoids death penalty in Effingham County Crocker case

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The death penalty is off the table and the father of the Crocker children has pleaded guilty to several crimes, including murdering his two children.

In 2018, Mary Crocker and Elwyn Crocker Jr. died at the hands of their own family members.

After eight years of the Crocker case going through the system, a plea deal has been offered to the Crocker children’s father, Elwyn Crocker Sr. He was originally facing the death penalty.

SEE: Crocker Case: Father charged with murder, facing death penalty requests change of venue

District Attorney Robert Busbee said the decision was based on the age of the case. This December will mark eight years since the bodies were discovered. This November will mark 10 years since Elwyn Crocker Jr.’s death.

Crocker Sr. pleaded guilty to:

-2 Counts of malice murder (Life without parole on each count)

-Aggravated sexual battery (Life without parole)

-4 counts of Cruelty to Children (20 years each)

-2 counts of Concealing the death of another (10 years each)

-2 counts of false imprisonment (10 years each)

See press conference below:

District attorney: Best outcome outside death penalty

Busbee said delay usually benefits the defense, but they were in a strong position to recommend the maximum sentence outside of the death penalty.

Busbee said he understands many residents who have been watching this case closely over the years will be disappointed, but he said this was the best possible outcome outside of the death penalty. He said he hates it has to go this way, but it is a relief that the case is over in a sense.

“This is certainly not justice, and frankly, based on the facts in this case, the death penalty would not have been justice,” said Busbee. “What these children went through there is no punishment available under the law that would be justice in this case.”

Now that Crocker has pleaded guilty, he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“It is a relief that it is over, but it’s certainly mixed feelings,” said Busbee. “I was very driven to get the maximum sentence in this case, setback deep, and it was disappointing.”

Combined with a setback from the COVID-19 pandemic, the DA’s office also said that the recent departure of two key prosecutors who were deeply involved in the case has complicated the ability to effectively try a case of this magnitude.

“We would need to form a new team, they would need to become familiar with this extensive case, motions would have to stop and star again-- all of which would add years to the timeline.

These factors create a situation where proceeding to trial carries substantial risks. The loss of key witnesses and the passage of time would have made it significantly more difficult to present the strongest possible case to a jury."

District Attorney Robert Busbee

setback

Key witness death prompted plea deal

Crocker Sr. was the last remaining suspect whose case was still unresolved. Because of dead witnesses and the length of time that has passed, the district attorney said he had to make this deal.

One of the key witnesses in the case, Roy Prater, died while in jail awaiting sentencing in February of 2026.

Part of Prater’s deal was testifying against family members involved in their deaths.

“He was one of our witnesses in this case. In fact, he spoke to law enforcement for hours and hours and hours,” said Busbee. “He incriminated co-defendants. He described what happened inside the house. His passing means all of that evidence that he was going to provide for us.”

Busbee said Prater’s death was one of the reasons for the plea deal. The recorded statements cannot be used because, under the Constitution, a defendant has a right to confront his witnesses. Because they could not cross-examine Prater, the Da said statements could not be used.

Others sentenced in this case:

• Candice Crocker: life without parole (sentenced)
• Kim Wright: life without parole (sentenced)
• Mark Wright: 80 years (sentenced)
• Roy Prater: pled guilty, DA announces death in February of 2026

Candice Crocker, the children’s stepmother, Kimberly Wright- Candice’s mother and the children’s step-grandmother, along with Candice’s brother & the kids’ uncle Mark Wright, are all serving their life sentences in prison.

Below is an interactive map showing how the victims and defendants are connected, as well as the charges the defendants faced

To read more about the Crocker case, click here.