DeKalb County man gets life sentence for sexually assaulting neighbor in Kirkwood community

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A Kirkwood man accused of sexually assaulting a neighbor in her own home was sentenced to life plus 20 years, today, May 17, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced.

A jury found Eric Haygood, 61, guilty on charges of Rape, two counts of Aggravated Sodomy and Aggravated Assault Strangulation stemming from an incident on Feb. 1, 2022.

According to the investigation, officers from the Atlanta Police Department responded to a Kirkwood home in reference to a sexual assault. The victim, in her 50s, told officers that she saw Haygood on the street while walking her dog earlier in the morning. Haygood had previously lived in the neighborhood in his mother’s homeand was still frequently seen in the area.

The victim returned home and began working for the day. Around 8:30 a.m., Haygood knocked on her door asking for a favor. Once inside the home, Haygood attacked the victim, grabbing and strangling her, and demanding intercourse. The victim’s attempts to stop Haygood verbally and physically were unsuccessful. Before leaving the home, aygood expressed, “I’m in trouble,” and hugged the victim.

Haygood was previously tried for a similar crime that occurred in the same neighborhood in 2007. Despite the State’s efforts, a DeKalb County jury acquitted Haygood of the charges.

Immediately following the guilty verdicts, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Haygood to Life Without the Possibility of Parole plus 20 years to serve consecutively.

The case, assigned to the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Paige Boorman with assistance from Senior ADA Elizabeth Tarver, DA Investigator Andre Williams, and Victim Advocate Tina Williamson. Atlanta Police Department Detective Fernkorn and former Officer Murray, now an SVU Detective, led the initial investigation.

Pictured: Eric Haygood, 51. Booking photo provided via DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.