By ANDRIA SIMMONS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tedla Lemma came to this country seeking a better life and political asylum from the former communist government in Ethiopia.
But for Lemma at least, America was not a land of safety or opportunity. It was a country where he would toil as a cashier for up to 17 hours a day. He saved nearly every penny, only to fall prey three times to violent robbers and die at their hands on March 25, 2008.
That was testimony given on Tuesday by Lemma’s brother, Sirak Lemma, in the Gwinnett County trial for one of the alleged killers, Quincy Marcel Jackson.
Jackson, 27, of Riverdale, and four other suspects are accused of committing three home invasion robberies between late 2007 and early 2008. Read More.
Couple faces murder charges (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Slain man’s family relieved
By ANDRIA SIMMONS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/17/08
Relatives have been visiting Tedla Lemma’s grave almost daily since he was killed in a home invasion four months ago.
His sister-in-law, Rosemary Lemma, returned there Wednesday with newfound peace after learning police had captured the alleged killers.
“I know he is laughing, saying ‘You thought you would get away with it,’ ” Rosemary Lemma said. “I just can’t believe it’s finally coming to a close.”
Quincy Marcel Jackson, 27, of Riverdale, and Lorna Zemedu Araya, 25, of Atlanta, are being held without bond at the Gwinnett jail on murder charges related to the slaying of Lemma.
Araya was arrested on Monday. Jackson was taken into custody Tuesday night, Gwinnett Police spokeswoman Cpl. Illana Spellman said.
Quincy Marcel Jackson
I am so touched with the story about this two couples and my hearts goes to lemma family , but when it come to lorna i know her family and it is hard for me to believe she was involved in this murder. she come from a good family, hard working dad and two more hard working sisters.
mack,
how about ato zemedu & his gambling habits? why did you leave the mom out? Isn’t she the backbone of the house? I believe the family have suffered enough and I think it is not fair for you to be unfair.
Sorry I don’t know the father but the mother who grew up with me is so intelligent, caring and beautiful! she came from a good christian family background. So sad this happened to her family.
The family is in our thought and prayers.
Hedat.
i knew tedla he was a kind caring person.
he has never hurt anything not even a fly.
he had 3 children that loved him. he would always tell me these children are my life i will alyays make sure the best comes to them
he would always say i am a cocharach i will never die
tedla will always be loved by his family and the neighboorhood he will always be remembered
i send love to his family and they are in my thoughts and prayers
Lorna deserves everything she has coming to her….ppl who don’t know her or her family might be shocked and wouldn’t think that was her character. But that’s all her and her sisters were all about. I grew up with them and it disgust me that they were the most grimy, snicky, cold hearted thriving young girls. Their parents worked hard to give them what they HAD but still stealing was in there blood. They even broke in there own aunts house who owns a business and stole money. They family had liquor stores and instead of helping Instead of working and keeping the business going they stole money behind there parents back and partied and did drugs.They stole ppl credit cards and spent thousands of dollars that DID NOT BELONG TO THEM. They broke into ppl houses that they knew had a business or money in the house. And to sum up everything…ask where the younger sister (Makda Araya) is at? She is in jail for 5-7yrs because she was working at a bank and thought it was smart for her to steal over 50,000 dollar from the bank and now is serving time for it. Lorna has a past record of burglary and fraud. Please don’t give sympathy to her or her family…..and please STOP saying it’s the drugs that made her do it, she BEEN like that….if she is guilty, then god will do what is deserved!!!!!!!
For someone who speaks the truth, why won’t you reveal your name? You like putting everything else out there….HOw much class do you have to gossip about other peoples personal family business?
If we are not speaking the truth then what is the point of blabbing here? If “The Truth” so chooses to remain anonymous, that is his/her decision. it seems to me and just like your “handle” name indicates, you are here to be “entertained” and have nothing to contribute. Incidentally, I intimately knew/know the family, it is what it is. what skeletons are you hiding “Entertained”?
Get over it!!
it’s sad for all but what it comes down to is that it’s none of our business so please
act like adults
I have known Lorna for years she I never saw a side of her or her sisters that would make me beleive that they would do the things they are being accused for on their on My prayers go out to te family who lost there loved ones and out to Lorna and her fam
We as humans need to be careful of what company we keep all company isnt GOOD!!
The statements posted by the Truth are indeed the truth. I know victims of Lorna’s and it is a very hard thing to believe about such beautiful girls. But as far as “Entertained”…were is your name! None of the statements struck me as gossip just a person that has been there.
The statements posted by the Truth are indeed the truth. I know victims of Lorna’s and it is a very hard thing to believe about such beautiful girls. But as far as “Entertained”…where is your name! None of the statements struck me as gossip just a person that has been there.
I knew Tedla he was a very kind, sweet, caring man he was known as the uncle of the neighborhood
To kill someone that kind you must be possessed. My thoughts and prayers go out that kind family.
The truth is speaking all truth and no lies! These girls had a great set of parents who gave them everything. They lived in a mansion and had the best of everything! I went to school with them and they are as greedy and sneeky as the truth says! They broke into houses and stole from everybody! This is not surprising and I just feel bad for her sick mother and father who now have moved back home to Africa. Just pray for everyone involved and don’t let the devil take you down!
First off I would like to say hello. I think all of you people have lots of issues. well except for the truth. All of y’all of you are talk about Lorna like she was some kind of angel growing up. I mean it is obvious that she was not even close. She had not loyalty to her family for stealing from them. She also had no loyalty to my best friend and the rest of the people that did the crime as well, because she snitched on all of them just to try and get some of her time cut. When she was the master mind behind all of it. She really makes me sick as an honest human being and as a past criminal. Yes growing up Quincy and i did more dirt than a little. but we knew that if one of us got caught then you be the hell quite. as far as i am concerned she contributed in my home boy getting sentenced to life 30 years. B4 i leave let me say my heart does go out to the victim, and his family.
Tweeter,Please don’t hate Lorna for having a conscience. God always brings justice about and the victims’ family was blessed to be able to wittness it. If it weren’t for Lorna it would have been something or someone else bringing forth truth and justice. If we don’t repent of our sins, we all will face punishment for every evil deed and word we speak.
If you have a conscience and can repent and save youself why not take that offer from Jesus to save youself. Why don’t you just read God’s word to find out that there is no such thing as a “honest human being” and as horrible as her deeds were, we all face the same fate,seperation from God in death—hell– without Jesus.
Jesus died a very painful death on the cross and He was innocent, the only one to walk the earth without sin. He had to die for our sins because we all have evil hearts and have no hope of being with a Holy God without what Christ did for us. God loves us. watch “The Passion of the Christ”–Mel Gibson film, to get a feel for How much God hates sin (Jesus took our punishment) and to get a feel for how much God loves us (Jesus didn’t have to come to this earth or go to the cross). Read God’s word if you really want “Truth”
This is not about god or snitching. Its about doing whats right. I agree with tweeter that lorna shouldn’t have opened her mouth and she knew she was the lead suspect, but i will say what is done in the dark will come to light. It took them over a year and a half to find all of the suspects yet they did and now they all will be brought to justice. Now I hate to see anybody behind bars but come on people they set themselves up for that. You cant just kill a man and think its all good cus it isn’t. You do the crime, gotta do the time. Even if it is thirty years. Someones life is worth so much more. And the man was paralyzed for Christ sake! Did the robbers have a heart. Best wishes and my condolences go out to the family of Telda Lemma.
FIRST OF ALL no one should judge others . I KNOW Lorna, Sara, and Makda. Ive known them for years. I know their parents and some aunts and uncles. They come from a GOOD home and were raised with morals. So the TRUTH needs to shut up. People that come from good homes and turn out to be the opposite only shows insecurity. Not saying that they’re insecure but they all tried to fit in with obviously the WRONG crowd and this is the outcome. thats why its good to watch the company u keep. I’m not saying that the r innocent but u ppl are on here making them out to b monsters. That whats wrong with the Ethiopian community. always running ur mouths about ppls homes and personal lives like ur shit don’t stink. The first ones to point out somebody’s wrong doing. Take a look in the mirror and if you see perfection THEN u have every right to speak. If u dont see it then get some business and get urself together. My heart goes out to the victim and his family as well as the Araya family. Both families have lost loved ones.
it makes me so angry when people who take a life try to justify themselves when there is no justification to be made. I have listened to lorna speak and all she said was she wasnt the mastermind so she doesnt deserve to be where she is. there was no sign of remorse, she didnt say one word about the man whose life she took. she deserves to spend the rest of her life behind bars and i hope she grows a concionce (which she clearly lacks) if for no other reason than to feel more pain. Then she might feel an incling of the pain she has caused her victims family. she acts almost as if she is the victim, “oh poor me, jail is hard.” the only thing poor about u is ur lack of compassion and empathy for anyone but yourself. I hope you get what you deserve and in this life but i know God will most shirly deliver what u have coming after it.