ATLANTA — Carolyn Freeman, famously known as the “Falcons BirdLady,” has been arrested for allegedly scamming a group of fans out of $14,000. The incident centers around a catered tailgate party that never happened.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, Kansas City Chiefs fan Tamira Southwood and her tailgate group planned a lavish event for the Falcons vs. Chiefs game on September 22. The group envisioned a catered experience featuring live music, games, and gifts. One member suggested Carolyn Freeman, who runs the nonprofit BirdLady Cares Inc., to manage the event.
The group raised $14,000 and paid a deposit to Freeman on August 1, securing food, drinks, a chef, entertainment, tents, chairs, prizes, and gifts. The rest of the funds were sent on September 20, just two days before the scheduled party.
On September 22, Freeman contacted the group around 10:30 a.m., claiming she had been in the hospital but would still provide her services by noon. However, the tailgate party never took place, and Southwood filed a fraud report on October 7.
Following the report, Fulton County Marshals and Georgia State University Police arrested Freeman on an active warrant for theft by deception.
Carolyn Freeman earned the nickname “BirdLady” back in 1998, given to her by Falcons legends Jamal “Dirty Bird” Anderson and Jesse “The Hammer” Tuggle. She became a well-known Falcons superfan after using her game attendance as physical therapy following a 12-year bedridden period. Despite her fame and community work, this alleged scam has brought serious legal trouble.