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Crocker child murders

SOLVED2016Guyton, Georgia, United States3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Elwyn Crocker Jr. and Mary Frances Crocker were siblings in Guyton, Georgia, a small city about 28 miles northwest of Savannah. Elwyn Jr. disappeared in November 2016 at age 14, and Mary disappeared in October 2018 at age 13. Their father, Elwyn Crocker Sr., and stepmother, Candice Crocker, had withdrawn both children from South Effingham Middle School, telling officials the children would be homeschooled. Neither disappearance was ever reported to authorities. In 2012, the couple had received counseling from Effingham County's Department of Family and Children Services following abuse reports involving Elwyn Jr.; the case was closed in 2013 after they completed therapy and parenting classes.

The children's disappearances came to light only after a family relative contacted police with a tip suggesting Mary was deceased. Following an interview with the children's father, investigators searched the family property and discovered human remains on December 20, 2018 — Mary's 14th birthday. Both children's bodies were found buried beneath cement and trash bags behind the house.

Investigators determined that both children had been starved, beaten, and kept in dog cages. Mary was reportedly punished for infractions such as not exercising or skipping chores, bound with zip ties, and shocked with a stun gun; a photograph documented her severe physical deterioration and bruising. Family members allegedly mixed rice vinegar into her food to make it less palatable, contributing to starvation, and forcibly restrained her against a ladder in an attempt to straighten her limbs. Elwyn Jr. was reportedly abused and starved in a similar manner.

Five adults from the household were arrested and charged: Elwyn Crocker Sr.; his wife Candice Crocker; Candice's mother, Kimberly Wright; Wright's companion, Roy Prater; and Candice's brother, Mark Anthony Wright. Charges included felony murder, concealing a death, and child cruelty, among others.

Roy Prater was the first to plead guilty, in February 2020, to murder and concealing a death, to avoid Georgia's death penalty. Candice Crocker pleaded guilty in October 2020 to murder, torture, sexual battery, and confining the children in dog crates; she agreed to testify against her husband, mother, and brother and received life without parole. Mark Wright pleaded guilty in early 2025 to second-degree murder, child cruelty, and concealing the children's deaths, and was later sentenced to 80 years. Kim Wright pleaded guilty in September 2025 under a negotiated deal requiring future testimony, receiving a life sentence without parole. Roy Prater died in state custody in February 2026 before formal sentencing.

Elwyn Crocker Sr., the principal suspect, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to murder, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and concealing a death, in a deal removing the death penalty as an option; prosecutors cited evidentiary and witness-availability difficulties. He was sentenced to two terms of life without parole, one term of life with parole, and an additional 120 years' imprisonment. A child with cerebral palsy who also lived in the home was placed into the care of Effingham County social services at the time of the arrests.

Key facts

Victims
Mary Frances Crocker, Elwyn Crocker Jr.
Date
2016
Location
Guyton, Georgia, United States
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2012

    Effingham County's Department of Family and Children Services provided counseling to Elwyn Crocker Sr. and Candice Crocker following reports they were abusing Elwyn Crocker Jr.

  2. 2013

    The Department of Family and Children Services closed the abuse case after the couple completed therapy and parenting classes.

  3. 2016-11

    Elwyn Crocker Jr., age 14, disappeared.

  4. 2018-10

    Mary Crocker, age 13, disappeared.

  5. 2018-12-20

    Human remains of both children were discovered buried on the family's Guyton, Georgia property, on Mary Crocker's 14th birthday.

  6. 2020-02

    Roy Prater pleaded guilty to murder and concealing a death, becoming the first suspect to plead guilty.

  7. 2020-10

    Candice Crocker pleaded guilty to murder, torture, sexual battery, and keeping the children in dog crates; agreed to testify against remaining co-defendants.

  8. 2024-11

    An Effingham County judge denied a defense motion to dismiss the original indictment against the three remaining defendants.

  9. 2025-08-19

    Elwyn Crocker Sr. appeared at Effingham County Courthouse for evidentiary hearings; his lawyers announced they would contest digital evidence from the home.

  10. 2025

    Mark Wright pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, child cruelty, and concealing the children's deaths.

  11. 2025-11

    Mark Wright was sentenced to a maximum total of 80 years in prison.

  12. 2025-09

    Kim Wright pleaded guilty under a negotiated plea deal requiring future testimony; sentenced to life without parole.

  13. 2026-02

    Roy Prater died in state custody before his formal sentencing.

  14. 2026-04

    Elwyn Crocker Sr. pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and concealing a death, removing the death penalty as an option; sentenced to life without parole terms and 120 additional years.

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People

  • Candice Crocker

    CONVICTED

    Children's stepmother; pleaded guilty in October 2020 to murder, torture, sexual battery, and keeping the children in dog crates; sentenced to life without parole.

  • Mary Frances Crocker

    VICTIM

    Daughter of Elwyn Crocker Sr.; disappeared in October 2018 at age 13 and was found buried on the family property in December 2018, on her 14th birthday.

  • Mark Anthony Wright

    CONVICTED

    Candice Crocker's brother; pleaded guilty in early 2025 to second-degree murder, child cruelty, and concealing the children's deaths; sentenced to 80 years in prison.

  • Elwyn Crocker Sr.

    CONVICTED

    Children's father; pleaded guilty in April 2026 to murder, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and concealing a death; sentenced to life without parole plus additional prison terms.

  • Kimberly Wright

    CONVICTED

    Candice Crocker's mother; pleaded guilty in September 2025 under a negotiated plea deal requiring testimony; sentenced to life without parole.

  • Roy Prater

    CONVICTED

    Kim Wright's companion; pleaded guilty in February 2020 to murder and concealing a death; died in state custody in February 2026 before formal sentencing.

  • Elwyn Crocker Jr.

    VICTIM

    Son of Elwyn Crocker Sr.; disappeared in November 2016 at age 14 and was found buried on the family property in December 2018.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Guyton, Georgia, United States

32.3244, -81.3898

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Elwyn Crocker Jr., 14, and his sister Mary Crocker, 13, were killed by family members in Guyton, Georgia; their remains were found buried in the family's backyard in December 2018 after years of undisclosed abuse.
Where did the murders happen?
Guyton, Georgia, United States.
Who was convicted?
Candice Crocker (Children's stepmother; pleaded guilty in October 2020 to murder, torture, sexual battery, and keeping the children in dog crates; sentenced to life without parole.), Mark Anthony Wright (Candice Crocker's brother; pleaded guilty in early 2025 to second-degree murder, child cruelty, and concealing the children's deaths; sentenced to 80 years in prison.), Elwyn Crocker Sr. (Children's father; pleaded guilty in April 2026 to murder, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and concealing a death; sentenced to life without parole plus additional prison terms.), Kimberly Wright (Candice Crocker's mother; pleaded guilty in September 2025 under a negotiated plea deal requiring testimony; sentenced to life without parole.), and Roy Prater (Kim Wright's companion; pleaded guilty in February 2020 to murder and concealing a death; died in state custody in February 2026 before formal sentencing.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Georgia

Sources

  1. Crocker child murderswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — Peoplenews · People · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — New York Postnews · New York Post · 2026-07-07