Posted on Aug 17, 2007

Former Dekalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey has confessed to the killing of sheriff-elect Derwin Brown. District Attorney Gwen Fleming met with Dorsey in July where the former elected official admitted to ordering the hit on his successor. At that meeting, Dorsey said after an August 2000 runoff-election, he wrote a note telling former sheriff's deputy Patrick Cuffy to kill his rival. Dorsey said Cuffy responded with a note saying, “We are way ahead of you.”

Dorsey told the district attorney he later tried to call off he hit. He said he was despondent over sexual harassment allegations and a troubled marriage. His rival ran a campaign on “cleaning up corruption in the sheriff’s office.” Brown was shot to death days before taking office.

Co-conspirators Granted Immunity for Testimony Against Dorsey

Cuffy admitted participation in the killing but testified for the prosecution. Cuffy and Paul Skyers each were granted immunity for their testimony. Two others -- Melvin Walker and David Ramsey -- were sentenced in November 2005 to life in federal prison for their part in the murder. Dorsey received a life sentence plus 23 years on corruption convictions.

Dorsey's widow, Phyllis died in 2006. Before her death, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband, the co-conspirators and DeKalb County.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13907255/detail.html