By Carly Henderson
The White County Sheriff’s Office believes investigators have identified the man and woman whose remains were discovered on Mount Yonah last week, but their identities have not yet been confirmed.
White County Sheriff Rick Kelley announced the update in a press release Tuesday, Sept. 15. Kelley said dental records must still be compared to make a positive identification. The names of the deceased will not be released until that process is complete.
Kelley said 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.
Autopsies were conducted Tuesday morning, Sept. 15. The results are pending.
The remains were discovered by a hiker at approximately 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, 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 remains the lead investigative agency. Kelley said the case remains “very active” and ongoing.
The White County News will continue to follow the investigation as more information becomes available.