MACON, Ga. — A Macon resident and Atlanta Falcons superfan known as the "Birdlady" is behind bars in Fulton County after a tailgate went wrong and $14,000 went unaccounted for.
On Sunday, Carolyn Freeman was arrested and charged at the Falcons and Cowboys game with a felony count of theft by deception after reports of a tailgate scam back in September.
Tammy Southwood says her family is big fans of the Kansas City Chiefs.
When they found out they were playing in Atlanta, Southwood said she connected with Freeman to set up a tailgate for the game. She says she'd heard that Freeman sets up tailgates for visiting fans.
"We had a contract with her to provide all the things that she indicated that she would provide, and we would send money," Southwood said.
She says her family and friends paid Freeman for a tailgate lot, food, drinks, TVs and games. But the Birdlady's nest was empty when the tailgate crew arrived.
"We just kept getting these excuses the entire time and she never showed up," Southwood said. "At about 5 p.m., we disbanded, but we had over 300 disgruntled people trying to attend a tailgate that never occurred."
Southwood said a few hours into the game they spotted Freeman in the stands cheering on the Falcons. She says she trusted Freeman, and hopes she ends up paying up.
Southwood says she has not received any of the money back, but will continue to seek compensation.
"I just want her to pay," Southwood said. "I want justice to be served."
This is not Freeman's first time being accused of scamming tailgaters. In 2017, 13WMAZ reported nearly six people paid $800 for a Superbowl package in Houston that included a hotel stay, tickets, and a bus ride between Atlanta and Houston, but the bus never came.