Deceased’s family requests privacy
By Carly Henderson
White County Sheriff Rick Kelley said Tuesday afternoon that the man and woman whose remains were discovered on Mount Yonah earlier this month have been positively identified. However, their names or manner of death have not been released.
“The autopsy results are still pending,” Kelley said. “The family has requested that we not release their names.”
The autopsies were begun last week.
On Sept. 15, Kelley told the White County News that dental records had to be compared to make a positive identification. Kelley stated that the deceased were not residents of White County.
The sheriff’s office determined the remains had been on Mount Yonah for several weeks. Investigators believe the two went to the mountain “with the intention of never coming back down,” based on facts in the case, including evidence collected at the scene, Kelley said.
The remains were discovered by a hiker at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Sept. 9. The hiker contacted authorities, prompting a response from the White County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The GBI Region 8 Crime Scene Unit also assisted the sheriff’s office with processing the scene.
The remains were located near the top of Mount Yonah in a grassy area approximately 300 feet from an area used for helicopter landings during ranger training and rescues.
The White County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency in the ongoing case. The White County News will continue to follow the investigation as more information becomes available.