Machete murderer sentenced to life in prison 

After being convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend with a machete in her apartment, Russell Rendell Jr. was sentenced this week to life in jail without the possibility of parole, plus 10 years. 

Russell, 30, entered his ex-girlfriend’s Mableton apartment on October 27, 2020,  uninvited, he was forced to leave the residence. Using a key that he had secretly kept to get back inside, Russell returned within minutes with a machete. He then stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Gregory James, with the machete while five children under the age of 18 were in the apartment. James was 26-years-old when he was stabbed over 10 times by Russell. 

Testimony used to convict Russell came from his ex-girlfriend, the children, Cobb police, Puckett EMS personnel, and the Cobb’s Medical Examiner’s Office.

Russell was found guilty by a Cobb County jury of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, cruelty to children in the third degree, theft by taking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

According to a release from the Cobb District Attorney’s office, the sentence was handed down by Cobb Superior Court Chief Judge Robert D. Leonard Thursday. The D.A.’s office said it hoped the sentencing of Russell brings closure to the family and friends of James.