Gerrit Van Leeuwen, a 59‑year‑old white man, was killed on May 11, 1979, in Cobb County, Georgia during a domestic dispute that escalated when he accompanied his daughter, Linda Gilreath, to the home of her estranged husband, Fred Gilreath, to retrieve personal items. Fred Gilreath, then 41, became enraged over the ongoing divorce and shot both his wife and Van Leeuwen. Gerrit Van Leeuwen suffered multiple gunshot wounds from three different firearms: a .30‑30 rifle, a shotgun, and a .22 caliber weapon.

Fred Gilreath was arrested the same day, charged with the murders, and the prosecution presented evidence of prior threats he had made against Linda, her mother, and Gerrit Van Leeuwen; the killings were described as premeditated and motivated by anger over the separation and pending divorce. Gilreath was convicted and sentenced to death. If anyone knew Gerrit or has information about the events that led to that day, please share what you know.