White Co. Sheriff's Office leads investigation
By Carly Henderson
Human remains discovered Wednesday on Mount Yonah have been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for autopsy as investigators work to determine the cause of death and identify the two deceased people.
A hiker discovered the remains of two people on the mountain and contacted authorities at approximately 11:20 a.m. Sept. 9, according to a WCSO news release received by the White County News Wednesday afternoon.
White County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Region 8 Crime Scene Unit was also requested by the sheriff’s office to assist with processing the scene.
The GBI confirmed Thursday that it was requested to provide crime scene assistance as part of a death investigation. The White County Sheriff’s Office remains the lead investigative agency, according to GBI Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Sara Lue.
Sheriff Rick Kelley told the White County News Thursday that the remains were located near the top of Mount Yonah, in a grassy area about 300 feet from an area where helicopters land during ranger training and rescues.
Kelley said the autopsies should be scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Mount Yonah is open to the public.
The investigation remains ongoing. No additional information, including the circumstances surrounding the deaths, has been released.
“We will give an update when additional information becomes available,” White County Sheriff Rick Kelley said in a written statement on Wednesday.
The White County News will continue to follow this story as it develops.