(Court TV) — Was a successful Georgia entrepreneur murdered by one of his many lovers, a woman furious over the fact that he was trying to break off their affair? Or were there clues pointing to other potential suspects — clues that the police chose to ignore in their rush to prosecute an innocent suspect?

One Atlanta jury had already found Dionne Baugh guilty of murder — but when her conviction was overturned on appeal, the 35-year-old defendant was tried again in October 2003 in an Atlanta courtroom.

A Rising Star

Lance Herndon had earned a reputation as one of Atlanta's rising business stars. His company, Access Inc., was a computer consulting firm that earned million-dollar contracts with such prestigious clients as the city of Atlanta and NationsBank.

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The 41-year-old native New Yorker was presented with a National Service Award at the White House by then-President George Bush in 1988. Former President Bill Clinton, during his administration, praised him for his business acumen.

Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell selected Herndon as one of the city's business leaders who accompanied the mayor on a trade mission to South Africa in 1995. An African-American, Herndon was well-known throughout that minority community for his philanthropic endeavors.

But Lance Herndon had a dark side. Those who knew him well concede that the thrice-divorced entrepreneur — his most recent divorce had been the previous January — had two major weaknesses. Herndon liked women, often being involved with several females at the same time. And Herndon liked to spend money on himself and on the women in his life. After his death, it was discovered that Access Inc. was essentially broke, and Herndon had already borrowed heavily against a large line of credit he had established with a local bank.

The Relationship

Herndon met Dionne Baugh in April 1996 and quickly began an affair. Baugh, 27, and married at the time, was a naturalized American citizen originally from Jamaica. Her husband, Shaun Nelson, worked as a pilot for Air Jamaica and lived on the island nation with the couple's young daughter, Amanda, while Baugh remained in Atlanta to complete her college education. She worked as an executive assistant for MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

According to witness accounts, Herndon wanted to end the relationship with Baugh, though she wanted to continue seeing him.

Lance Herndon

Herndon had actually called the police a month before he was murdered. On July 10, Baugh allegedly made a scene outside his home and repeatedly banged on his door after reportedly seeing Lance inside with another woman.

A policeman who responded to the call sent Baugh away, but she returned early the following morning. Police arrested her for a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass.

Although the couple continued to see each other after the July 10 incident, prosecutors claim that Lance Herndon had made his mind up to break things off with Dionne. But he continued to give Baugh money regularly and allowed her the full-time use of his Mercedes.

On August 8 — the day Lance Herndon's dead body was discovered — Baugh was scheduled to appear in court on the criminal trespass citation. Herndon had reportedly promised Baugh, however, that he would appear with her and ask that the charges be dismissed.

The Crime Scene