MACON, Ga. — Two murders in two different states in a span of six months.
That's exactly what happened right in Macon and Pulaski, Tennessee.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office said 39-year-old Adam Rosenthal of Gainesville, Florida is accused of killing Albert Knight in May. Rosenthal also, according to Tennessee authorities, ran for mayor of Gainesville — the same city where the University of Florida is located.
According to reports, someone hit Knight in the head in an alley near Second Street and Poplar Street. Rosenthal was arrested by the Giles County Sheriff's Department in Tennessee in connection to the death of another man, Darren Gambrel, and on Dec. 4, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office also charged him in connection to the death of Knight.
Over the phone, Lt. Josh Bass with the Giles County Sheriff's Office said that on Nov. 26, they discovered the dead body of Gambre, who was in a religious group with Rosenthal called The Twelve Tribes. The Southern Poverty Law Center described it as a Christian Fundamentalist Cult.
He said they went to question Rosenthal because he was the last person seen with Gambre.
"He did disclose that he knew the victim, he did live with the victim daily, and that he had stabbed the victim," Bass said.
Without being asked about it, Rosenthal then shared details about another killing in Macon.
That's when Bass said they called the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, who came to interview Rosenthal and determined that he was connected to Knight's death.
Bass said while Rosenthal knew the victim in Tennessee, he doesn't think Rosenthal knew the victim in Macon at all. He said Rosenthal told them he was just passing through town when he killed Knight.
"He was on foot mostly," Bass said. "He did admit to getting rides from the public. He says he denies hitchhiking- he says people just stopped and offered him a ride and he would accept cause he would be tired of walking."
He said that, for now, they don't believe Rosenthal's connected to any other killings, but both of these homicides are still under investigation. He also said Rosenthal was not part of The Twelve Tribes group when he allegedly killed Knight.
Bass believes Rosenthal joined them around June 11, and as part of the group, he worked at their restaurant, The Yellow Deli.
Like Knight, Rosenthal has shared in interviews with other news organizations that he was once homeless himself for about a year. Two years ago, Rosenthal ran and lost a race for mayor in Gainesville, Florida.
After months of not knowing where Rosenthal might've been, Macon residents are just happy he's gone. Elizabeth Mahone co-owns Elizabeth's Vintage Boutique, which is one block away from the homicide. She said it was a huge relief after worrying about her safety for the past six months.
"Happy he's off the streets. Happy he's in prison, hopefully, for life," Elizabeth Mahone said.