Beth Shelburne

When I mention her grandmother, Violet Ellison, Thais comes out from behind the screen door.

She keeps her earbuds in while we stand on the porch and talk.

What kind of grandmother was she?

Was she involved in your life?

So there's not, like, warm feelings.

So far, most of the people I've contacted about Violet Ellison had good reason to say negative things about her.

Those were people who she testified against.

But this feels different.

We're hearing from a blood relative, a person connected to Violet Ellison through family.

Thais tells us she's retired from the Air Force.

She moved to Georgia with her mom, Anita Davis, and her two brothers when they were kids.

Thais says it was to get away from the chaos surrounding her father's side of the family.

We ask her about Red.

What's the deal with Red, her son?

So that's my dad.

Okay.

Yeah, she upholds everything she does.

Thais corroborates the picture already painted by George Holloway and a neighbor of Violet Ellison, telling us that she readily involves herself in other people's criminal issues, but does whatever she can to protect her son, Red, when he gets into trouble.

We explain why we're interested in Violet Ellison and her son.

And Thais tells us she had recently heard about her grandmother's involvement in Taforist Johnson's case.