Fred Tokars was a prominent Atlanta defense attorney and former prosecutor who gained national notoriety for orchestrating the 1992 murder-for-hire of his wife, Sara Tokars. Convicted on federal racketeering and state murder charges, Tokars died in federal prison in May 2020 while serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
The case of Fred Tokars remains one of the most chilling chapters in Georgia’s legal history. It is a story of a double life, where a man sworn to uphold the law used his expertise to circumvent it, eventually leading to a brutal crime that traumatized his children and the city of Atlanta. As of 2026, the case continues to be a primary study for legal professionals and true crime analysts regarding the intersection of white-collar crime, organized crime, and domestic violence.
The Professional Rise and Hidden Life of Fred Tokars
Before becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons, Fred Tokars was a respected figure in the Atlanta legal community. A former assistant district attorney, he had a reputation for being a "law and order" prosecutor before transitioning into private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. His background in the DA’s office gave him an intimate understanding of how the state built its cases, a tool he would later use to assist criminal enterprises.
In his private practice, Tokars began specializing in defending individuals involved in the drug trade. While it is the constitutional right of every individual to have a defense, Tokars crossed the ethical line from advocate to accomplice. Investigation later revealed that he wasn't just defending his clients; he was helping them launder money and hide assets through a web of offshore accounts and shell companies.
This double life created a significant amount of stress and a need for absolute secrecy. Tokars’ lifestyle was funded by illicit gains, and he went to great lengths to maintain the facade of a successful, upper-middle-class family man in the affluent suburbs of Cobb County. However, the veneer began to crack when his wife, Sara, a former schoolteacher, began to suspect that her husband’s professional dealings were far more sinister than they appeared.
The Tragic Events of November 29, 1992
The crime that would eventually bring down Fred Tokars’ empire occurred on the night of the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 1992. Sara Tokars was returning to the family’s home in Marietta, Georgia, after visiting her parents in Florida. She was accompanied by her two young sons, Ricky, aged 6, and Mike, aged 4.
As Sara arrived at her home, she was confronted by a gunman, later identified as Curtis Rower. Rower forced his way into the family’s Toyota 4Runner, ordering Sara to drive away. A short distance from the home, Rower shot Sara in the head with a sawed-off shotgun in front of her children. The brutality of the act was compounded by the fact that the two young boys had to crawl over their mother’s body to escape the vehicle and seek help in the darkness of the night.
The initial investigation focused on the possibility of a random carjacking or a botched robbery. However, investigators soon noticed inconsistencies. Fred Tokars’ behavior following the murder was described by many as cold and detached. Furthermore, the clinical nature of the hit suggested it was not a random act of violence but a calculated execution.
Unraveling the Conspiracy: The Evidence Gate
The breakthrough in the case came when investigators began looking into Fred Tokars’ business associates. The trail led to Eddie Lawrence, a business partner of Tokars who was deeply involved in his financial schemes. Under pressure from investigators and facing his own legal troubles, Lawrence eventually confessed to his role as the middleman in the murder plot.
Lawrence revealed that Fred Tokars had approached him with a request to "eliminate" Sara. The motive was two-fold: Sara had discovered evidence of Fred’s money laundering activities (specifically a briefcase containing documents about offshore accounts), and she was reportedly considering a divorce. If Sara went to the authorities or initiated a divorce, Fred stood to lose his legal career, his freedom, and his wealth.
According to Lawrence's testimony:
- The Planning: Tokars meticulously planned the murder to occur while he was away, providing himself with an alibi.
- The Recruitment: Lawrence hired Curtis Rower, a small-time criminal, to carry out the hit for a few thousand dollars.
- The Execution: The plan was designed to look like a street crime, but the specific target and timing were dictated by Tokars.
The discovery of the briefcase Sara had hidden was the "smoking gun" that tied the murder to Fred’s broader criminal activities. Sara had taken the documents to a private investigator, but she was murdered before she could take further action.
The Legal Proceedings: Federal and State Trials
The prosecution of Fred Tokars was a complex legal maneuver involving both federal and state jurisdictions. This strategy was employed to ensure that even if Tokars escaped conviction in one court, he would face justice in another.
The Federal RICO Trial
In 1994, Tokars was tried in federal court under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The federal government’s case focused on the criminal enterprise Tokars had built. They argued that the murder of Sara Tokars was an overt act committed to protect the interests of his racketeering business.
The federal trial was significant because it allowed the prosecution to bring in a vast amount of evidence regarding Tokars' money laundering and his association with drug traffickers. The jury found him guilty on multiple counts, including racketeering, money laundering, and kidnapping resulting in death. He was sentenced to life in prison.
The State Murder Trial
Following the federal conviction, the State of Georgia pursued its own charges for the murder of Sara Tokars. In 1997, Tokars faced a state jury. The primary focus here was the direct orchestration of the homicide. Despite his defense’s attempts to discredit Eddie Lawrence—the star witness—the jury found Tokars guilty of malice murder. Although the prosecution sought the death penalty, the jury ultimately opted for a sentence of life without parole.
| Trial Type | Key Charges | Primary Evidence | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (1994) | RICO, Money Laundering, Kidnapping | Financial records, Lawrence's testimony, Offshore accounts | Life Sentence (x8) |
| State (1997) | Malice Murder | Eyewitness accounts (sons), Rower/Lawrence testimony | Life without Parole |
Life in Prison and the Role of Informant
Fred Tokars’ time in the federal prison system was as unconventional as his legal career. Utilizing his extensive knowledge of the law and the criminal underworld, Tokars became a prolific government informant. For over two decades, he assisted federal authorities in solving several cold cases and prosecuting other high-level criminals.
His cooperation was so significant that some federal prosecutors later testified on his behalf, noting that he had provided information that led to the conviction of multiple murderers and the recovery of bodies in unrelated cases. Despite this cooperation, the severity of his own crime—specifically the fact that he had his wife killed in front of his children—meant that his requests for a sentence reduction or compassionate release were consistently denied.
During his incarceration, Tokars’ health began to decline. He suffered from a neurological disorder that eventually left him unable to walk. He spent his final years in a federal medical center, a far cry from the opulent lifestyle he had once fought so ruthlessly to protect.
The Death of Fred Tokars and the Legacy of the Case
Fred Tokars died in a federal prison hospital in Pennsylvania in May 2020, at the age of 67. His death marked the end of a legal saga that had spanned nearly 30 years. However, the closure it provided was bittersweet for those left in the wake of his actions.
The impact on his sons, Ricky and Mike, was profound. Both boys were forced to grow up with the trauma of witnessing their mother’s murder and the knowledge that their father was the architect of the crime. They were raised by Sara’s sisters and parents, who worked tirelessly to provide them with a stable environment away from the media spotlight.
Tragically, just weeks after Fred Tokars’ death in 2020, his younger son, Mike Tokars, passed away at the age of 31 from a pulmonary embolism. Mike had been a talented writer and musician who had written movingly about his struggle to reconcile his memories of his mother with the shadow cast by his father. The timing of their deaths—separated by only a month—brought the Tokars name back into the national headlines one last time.
The case remains a landmark for several reasons:
- Legal Precedent: It demonstrated the effective use of RICO statutes to prosecute domestic crimes linked to broader criminal enterprises.
- Victims' Rights: The bravery of Sara's family in pursuing justice for decades helped highlight the needs of families affected by high-profile violence.
- Psychological Study: The case is frequently cited in discussions about sociopathy and the "mask of sanity" maintained by individuals who lead double lives.
Financial and Ethical Failures in the Tokars Case
Analyzing the Tokars case from a technical SEO and legal perspective requires looking at the "Why" of his financial downfall. Tokars did not just represent drug dealers; he integrated his legal practice into their operations.
Money Laundering Mechanics
Tokars utilized what is known as "layering" in money laundering. He would take illicit cash from his clients and move it through several accounts—often in the Cayman Islands or Belize—before bringing it back into the U.S. as "clean" investment capital for legitimate businesses, such as nightclubs or real estate. By the time Sara discovered the briefcase, the paper trail was so complex that Tokars believed she was the only person who could truly link him to the scheme.
Ethical Breaches
The American Bar Association (ABA) and state bar associations use the Tokars case as a cautionary tale. His actions represent the ultimate breach of the attorney-client privilege, as he used the privilege not to protect a client’s rights, but to facilitate ongoing criminal acts. His disbarment was a foregone conclusion, but the case led to tighter scrutiny of attorney trust accounts (IOLTA) in Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the shooter, Curtis Rower?
Curtis Rower was convicted of the murder of Sara Tokars and sentenced to life in prison. Throughout his trials and subsequent appeals, Rower admitted to pulling the trigger but claimed he was pressured and hired by Eddie Lawrence. He remains incarcerated in the Georgia state prison system.
Did Fred Tokars ever admit to the murder?
No. Until his death in 2020, Fred Tokars maintained his innocence regarding the murder of his wife. While he acknowledged some of the financial crimes in his role as an informant, he never publicly took responsibility for the hit he ordered on Sara.
Where are the Tokars sons now?
As of 2026, Ricky Tokars (the elder son) lives a private life away from the media. Mike Tokars, the younger son, passed away in 2020. The family, particularly Sara’s sisters, has remained vocal over the years about domestic violence awareness and the protection of children who witness violent crimes.
How did the briefcase evidence help the case?
The briefcase contained documents detailing Fred’s offshore bank accounts and the names of his associates in the drug trade. Sara had hidden this briefcase and told a friend about it. When the police found it, it provided the motive: Fred needed to kill Sara to stop her from turning the evidence over to the FBI, which would have ended his career and sent him to prison for life.
Why wasn't Fred Tokars executed?
In his state trial, the prosecution did seek the death penalty. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on the death sentence, leading to an automatic sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Some jurors later suggested that the testimony of the young sons made them lean toward a sentence that would ensure the father remained alive but behind bars forever, rather than putting the children through an execution process.
Final Practical Considerations
For those researching the Fred Tokars case for legal or historical purposes, it is essential to consult the original court transcripts from both the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the Superior Court of Cobb County. These documents provide the most accurate account of the evidence presented, including the forensic financial analysis that led to the RICO convictions.
The Tokars case serves as a grim reminder of the devastation that can occur when professional expertise is used for criminal ends. For families or individuals in similar situations where they suspect a spouse of dangerous criminal activity, the primary recommendation is to seek legal counsel from a firm specializing in whistleblower protections and domestic safety, ensuring that evidence is handled by authorities in a way that prioritizes the safety of the informant.
