‘An innocent child’: Mother’s heartbreaking plea finally answered as man confesses to killing teen found dead in creek 14 years ago

After nearly 14 years of waiting for answers, the family of Blake Tyler Chappell finally has closure. The 17-year-old from Newnan, Georgia, who vanished after attending his high school homecoming dance in October 2011, was found dead in a creek two months later. Last week, authorities announced that 38-year-old Scotty Elliot Smith had confessed to the murder during multiple interviews with detectives.

Blake disappeared in the early morning hours of October 16, 2011, after leaving his girlfriend’s home on Mary Freeman Road. He was walking to a friend’s house in the Summergrove neighborhood when he went missing. Initially treated as a missing person case, the investigation turned into a homicide when Blake’s body was discovered on December 19, 2011, in a Coweta County creek. He had been shot and killed, found wearing only his underwear.

According to Newsweek, the case has haunted the Newnan community for over a decade. Blake’s mother, Melissa Chappell Becker, never gave up hope for justice. “I just want to know why. Just allow us to have some peace. He was just an innocent child. He did nothing wrong,” she said in a 2021 interview. Her words reflect the pain of a mother who spent years fighting to keep her son’s case alive, even putting up billboards pleading for tips along Highway 19/41 in Jonesboro.

The breakthrough came when Smith was recently identified as a person of interest

Smith, a Coweta County resident, had never been investigated before in connection with Blake’s death. According to the Newnan Police Department, detectives were able to link Smith to the crime after new evidence emerged. During multiple interviews, Smith confessed to killing the teenager. The investigation had received new momentum in March 2024 when police served three search warrants in the Sharpsburg area and collected evidence that was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for analysis.

The arrest marks the end of one of the area’s most persistent cold cases, which had seen various developments over the years. Police had received anonymous letters about the case in 2011 and again several years later, believed to be from the same person. In 2023, authorities even released a video message asking the anonymous tipster to come forward again. The case also drew attention from true crime enthusiasts and the local community, who never forgot Blake’s story.

Smith now faces multiple serious charges including felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, concealing the death of another, and tampering with evidence. He remains in custody at the Coweta County Jail while the investigation continues. The Newnan Police Department thanked the community for its support during what they called a “lengthy” investigation.

The case serves as another example of how persistence and modern investigative techniques can bring justice even after many years. Police Chief Brent Blankenship emphasized that while an arrest has been made, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Marcos Gonzalez or Lieutenant Chris Robinson at (770) 254-2355. For Blake’s family and the Newnan community, this arrest represents the first step toward finally getting the answers they have sought for so long.