SAVANNAH, Ga. — Spencer Lawton Jr., the former Chatham County District Attorney renowned for prosecuting a high-profile murder case featured in the best-selling book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” has passed away at the age of 81. Lawton died at his home in Savannah, as reported by Gamble Funeral Service, though no specifics regarding the cause of death were disclosed.
Lawton’s career as district attorney, a role he assumed in 1980 and held for nearly three decades, was marked by his staunch advocacy for crime victims and the establishment of a victim assistance program that became a blueprint for other jurisdictions across Georgia. His colleague, Meg Heap, who worked as an assistant prosecutor under Lawton and later served as district attorney herself from 2013 to 2020, remembered him as a fervent supporter of justice for the underrepresented and marginalized. “You stand on the side of right and you bring justice for someone who would otherwise not get it,” Heap said, emphasizing Lawton’s commitment to those who felt overlooked by the system.
Lawton’s most notorious case began in the early days of his tenure when Jim Williams, a prominent antiques dealer in Savannah, was charged with the murder of Danny Hansford, a young man who was both his employee and lover. The complexities of the case captured the fascination of the public, as Williams claimed self-defense and suggested Hansford had first drawn a weapon on him. The legal battle spanned four trials, with the Georgia Supreme Court overturning the initial two convictions and the third ending in a hung jury. Williams was acquitted in the fourth trial in 1989, an outcome that came only months before his own death.
This dramatic legal saga was later immortalized by John Berendt in his 1994 book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” which portrayed Lawton as a determined, albeit controversial prosecutor. The adaptation of the book into a film directed by Clint Eastwood in 1997 brought further attention, with the character based on Lawton named Finley Largent.
Despite the fame brought by the case, those close to Lawton recall his broader contributions to the legal field, particularly in the realm of victim’s rights. According to David Lock, Lawton’s chief assistant prosecutor, the book and movie do not fully encapsulate the positive impact Lawton had on the local community and the justice system. “I don’t really think about the Williams case when I think of Spencer’s contributions,” Lock said, reflecting a sentiment that Lawton’s legacy was much more than a single high-profile case.
After first taking office, Lawton quickly established a special program aimed at assisting not only crime victims but also witnesses navigating the complexities of the judicial process. Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council, noted that Lawton’s initiative laid the groundwork for a statewide improvement in how victims were treated within the legal system. This program educated victims on legal procedures, kept them informed about court dates, and provided guidance on obtaining additional support such as counseling.
Lawton retired in 2008 but continued advocating for legislative improvements to victim’s rights. His efforts were instrumental in the passage of a 2010 law that expanded the rights of crime victims in Georgia, which, among other provisions, ensured that victims were informed about the outcomes of cases and any developments regarding the release or escape of perpetrators.
Throughout his career and even in retirement, Spencer Lawton Jr. was remembered as a trailblazer in the field of criminal justice, whose efforts to enhance the rights and treatment of victims left a lasting imprint on the legal landscape of Georgia.