An 83-year-old woman from Georgia spent six hours in jail after authorities mistakenly identified her as a suspect in a drug trafficking case—because her name was off by just one letter.
Alice Cordell, a resident of Cobb County, was heading to the store in mid-June when a Bartow police officer ran her license plate and flagged an active warrant for drug trafficking. She was taken into custody and held in a cell.
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“I know she was terrified. She was cold. Luckily, some inmates gave her some socks in there to help her stay warm,”
— Jacob Cordell, grandson of Alice Cordell, told WSBTV.
Jacob said when he tried to contact the Cobb County district attorney’s Office, officials refused to speak without a lawyer. While Alice remained behind bars, the family reached out to the defense attorney handling the actual trafficking case—who confirmed that the true defendant had already been arrested in 2024 and was actively attending court.
The key difference between the two individuals: Alice is the grandmother’s name, while the suspect’s name is Alica.
The family later discovered that court documents had incorrectly listed Alice Cordell’s birthdate and an old address, linking her to the wrong case. After the defense attorney raised the issue in court, the judge ordered Alice’s release.
Cobb County District Attorney Sonya F. Allen addressed the incident, calling it a “critical error” made by a prior administration.
“While the mistake was not intentional, we take full responsibility for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all matters handled by this office,” Allen stated.
“This incident underscores why we are committed to restoring the integrity, accountability, and transparency of this office. We remain focused on delivering justice responsibly and treating every member of our community with the dignity they deserve,” she added.
The DA’s office expressed sincere regret over the distress caused and reaffirmed its commitment to justice and community service.
