Friday the 13th proved unlucky for accused bank robbery suspect

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Joel Hudson Edwards could be called the "reluctant bank robber." Investigators say he tried five times to rob two Coweta County banks but could not work up the nerve. And once he did, on the sixth try, he had to go to two different tellers before he was able to get any money.

Edwards' Friday the 13th crime spree in Coweta County began with bad karma from the start. Investigators say while Edwards' brother was in the hospital suffering from a heart attack, he borrowed his pickup truck to drive to Georgia to rob a bank. It was that pickup truck that led to his arrest.

FOX 5 News first reported about a pickup truck investigators connected to the man they said was responsible for the Friday the 13th robbery of the Southern States Bank in Coweta County. A robbery at the time marred by bad luck. And it continues now for 58-year old Joel Hudson Edwards who investigators tracked to Phenix City, Alabama and arrested for the crime.

Investigators say on Friday the 13th, Edwards walked into the Southern States Bank and handed the teller a note demanding money. Unfortunately for him, the teller had no money in her cash drawer and he was forced to go to another teller. Deputies say that was Edwards fourth time in that bank that day. Each time previously he had lost his nerve.

And they say that wasn't his first choice. Ten minutes previously he was at the Chase Bank in Newnan, wearing the same disguise and carrying the note. But decided against it.

Edwards' Friday the 13th bad luck continued into last week, when the truck's license plate led investigators to this home in Phoenix City, Alabama. They say a surveillance photo shows Edwards and what would turn out to be his brother's Chevy S10 pickup. His brother is apparently a big Georgia fan.

Friday the 13th, takings his brother's pickup without permission while he was in the hospital, perhaps Edwards himself knew luck was against him. Investigators say when the arrested him; he told them that he had been expecting them.

Edward has been charged with the bank robbery but they say more charges are possible.