GA lawyer got man acquitted in wife’s death. Decades later, he tells story in new book

McCraken Poston Jr.’s work defending Ringgold television repairman Alvin Ridley in the case of his wife’s death in the 1990s became famous in Georgia.

Now both his and Ridley’s struggles throughout the trial are part of a published book written by Poston, and the author will bring the book to Macon and Columbus in the summer to discuss the importance of this case.

The death investigation at the crux of the book, which is titled “Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom,” started on Oct. 4, 1997, in North Georgia. Ridley noticed his largely-unknown wife, Virginia, was unresponsive next to him at the age of 48 in their cockroach-infested home. They married in 1966, but no one in the town knew of her, much less their marriage. It sparked gossip, and the townspeople alleged Ridley had kept her captive.

The town coroner found bruising around Virginia Ridley’s neck and hemorrhaging in her eyes, which she said was consistent with smothering and asphyxiation. When that was discovered, Ridley was charged with murdering his wife.

Before being Ridley’s attorney in his murder trial, Poston was a Democratic politician who served four years in the Georgia House of Representatives. He ran to represent Georgia in Congress but was defeated by Nathan Deal, the Republican nominee.

Not only did he suffer the loss of his political career, but he was also going through a divorce.

“I was in a really bad place,” he said.

Despite these setbacks, he felt Ridley was “sincere.” That, and a call from Deal insulting Ridley, gave Poston the resolve to defend the Zenith man in court.

But Ridley’s behavior made it difficult to build an argument that could save him in court.

Besides his work repairing people’s TVs, Ridley had a bad reputation in Ringgold. He was dubbed “Crazy Alvin” by townspeople for run-ins with law enforcement, Poston said. Eventually, it cost him his beloved van and business.

Poston and Ridley often argued but, according to Poston, “we found a way to deal with each other.”

The prosecution’s argument revolved around Ridley’s demeanor when reporting his wife’s death in a call to 911 since he didn’t express panic, but was monotone when reporting her death, Poston said. Additionally, to get to the payphone and make the call, he drove past a hospital and a fire department that could’ve helped her much faster than calling.

It also revolved around the evidence from the coroner that the findings in Virginia Ridley’s body were consistent with her being smothered.

But Poston argued during the trial that every suspicion could be answered.

He didn’t deny Ridley was odd, but said his and Virginia Ridley’s reclusive lifestyle was voluntary. Virginia Ridley had severe epilepsy, something she was embarrassed by, Poston said. Neither of them trusted the local government, the police, hospitals or fire departments, which is why Ridley drove past them, Poston argued.

Before reluctantly calling 911, he called a hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since he knew he could trust them since he had taken his mother there, according to his testimony in court.

And the 10,000-plus letters, poems, bible verses and recipes present in their house written by Virginia described her genuine love for her husband, Poston said.

Additionally, an epilepsy expert hired by Poston proved the bruising in her neck and hemorrhage in her eyes was due to an epilepsy attack she suffered in her sleep.

Poston’s arguments worked — jurors ultimately decided there wasn’t enough proof to convict Ridley and acquitted him.

Ridley went back to a reclusive lifestyle but later reconnected with his attorney. The two began having lunch regularly in Ringgold, Poston said.

Why Poston wrote the book

Poston said his reason for writing the book was sparked years after the trial, when he encountered one of the jurors. About three years ago, Poston said, he talked to one of the jurors who had become a nurse. That juror suggested Ridley’s unusual demeanor at trial could be attributed to autism. When Ridley found out, he went to a specialist and found out he is neurodivergent, Poston said.

Poston came to the realization Ridley’s neurodivergence was used against him during his murder trial, and vowed to write the book to train law enforcement on the signs, he said.

“I want to keep this from happening again,” he said.

Ridley is now 82 years old and is often visited by both Poston and his secretary to give him clothes and other essentials, Poston said. Poston continues working as a criminal defense attorney and works part-time as a juvenile court judge for Catoosa County.

While the exact dates of his visit to Macon and Columbus are unknown, he promised to visit and announce the dates on social media.