Tifton man pleads guilty to murder of 9-year-old girl
TIFTON, Ga. – According to our news partners with the Tifton Grapevine newsletter, a Tifton man pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder and assault charges in the brutal stabbing death of a nine-year-old girl, a case that rocked the Tifton community in October 2020.
Semaj Antonio Moss, 21, pleaded guilty in Tift County Superior Court to malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.
Tift Superior Court Chief Judge Bill Reinhardt sentenced Moss to life without parole in the death Oct. 5, 2020, of Alazia “Ally” Johnson, a student at Len Lastinger Elementary School.
During the evening of Oct. 5, Moss, who the girl’s family knew, entered her home in the Nichols Peterson Apartments off Timmons Avenue and stabbed her multiple times, authorities said. Her mother, Tegina Brown, a single mother, said she discovered her daughter’s body shortly after 7 a.m. the next morning.
“I have to work to support my kids. I had to go to work that night, and I just came home and found my baby,” Brown had said.
The crime stunned the community. A $3,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible, which was subsequently raised to $8,000 by local anonymous donors.
Moss was arrested just days later at a family member’s home in Lowndes County.
“There’s nothing we can do to bring this nine-year-old child back to her family, but today justice was done, and the citizens of Tifton are assured that Semaj Moss will never harm anyone again,” said District Attorney Bryce Johnson of the Tifton Judicial Circuit.
“I commend Special Agent Zach Bryan with the GBI Sylvester office and the officers and investigators with the Tifton Police Department for their tireless efforts in resolving this case.” Johnson said.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Patrick Warren handled the case on behalf of the state of Georgia.
By: FRANK SAYLES JR., Tifton Grapevine
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