Hart County Woman Pleads Guilty in Murder of Lavonia Businessman

Two years after the brutal murder of a Lavonia businessman Sam Harbin, a Hart County woman avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty.

In Franklin County Superior Court Tuesday, 32-year old Kristin Odister pleaded guilty to malice murder for her part in the 2016 beating death 82-year old Harbin.

Before being sentenced, Odister apologized for her actions and asked Sam Harbin’s family for forgiveness.

Superior Court Judge Lauren Watson then sentenced her to life in prison.

Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White said Odister waived any and all rights to appeal her conviction and sentence.  She will not be eligible for parole until 2046.

Harbin’s murder sent shockwaves through Lavonia and Franklin County.

“This senseless crime shook the city of Lavonia. Mr. Harbin was a good, Christian man, and loved by so many. He ministered to inmates at the Franklin County jail. He believed in redemption. He was kind and generous,” White said.

Odister had been a tenant in the Park South Mobile Home Park that Harbin owned in Lavonia and had purchased a Cadillac from him with owner financing.

When she failed to keep up the payments, Harbin repossessed the car.

On the morning of August 8, 2016 Odister and her boyfriend, 47-year old Rayfonida Craft entered Harbin’s Gilmer St. home in Lavonia, tied him up and beat him to death before burglarizing his home and stealing the Cadillac.

After an intensive investigation by the GBI, and Hart, Franklin, and Lavonia authorities, Odister and Craft were arrested in Bowersville and charged with one count each of malice murder.

Both were denied bond and the DA asked for the death penalty.

Craft remains in jail and is awaiting trial.