Skeletal remains of a Male - under Oconee River Bridge-Jackson County GA

[Nut44x4]

Woman’s bones found along I-85
Victim believed to have been thrown from bridge
BY ANGELA GARY
An investigation is under way into the identity of skeletal remains found by hikers Saturday near I-85.
The remains were identified as likely being a female and as having been at the site for some time. Law enforcement officers believe the woman was thrown from a bridge over the Oconee River near Hurricane Shoals Park.
“Investigators met with the gentlemen (hikers) first thing on Saturday morning at the site of discovery, which was under the Oconee River Bridge on Interstate 85 and confirmed that the remains were in fact human,” Sheriff Stan Evans said.
Investigators and crime scene personnel were on the scene most of Saturday scouring the area and retrieving evidence. Jackson County investigators transported the remains to the Georgia State Crime Lab Monday morning for further investigation and possible identification.
“All we know at this point is that the remains had been there for some time and appear to be that of a female,” Evans said.
The two hikers found the remains when they were walking along the Oconee River Friday evening.
http://www.mainstreetnews.com/2008/04:23:08/J0423A.html

[Hey Paula]

Has there been any word re DNA testing results and the identity of this person?

I'm wondering if the remains might be those of Tara Grinstead who disappeared, from Ocilla, GA, and hasn't been seen since October 22, 2005.

TIA to anyone who might know.

[gramvof14]

So far we don't know very much. Was there clothes or shoes or anything else that may give a clue to who she is?? I guess we will have to wait for them to release some more information.I wish they would find Tara for her family's sake.:1222423::1222423:

[Hey Paula]

So far we don't know very much. Was there clothes or shoes or anything else that may give a clue to who she is?? I guess we will have to wait for them to release some more information.I wish they would find Tara for her family's sake.:1222423::1222423:

Thanks for your reply, Gram!

I haven't heard anything more about what was found other than what is stated in that short article.

Thanks for your compassion and concern. I have been praying for Tara to be found, and following her case, since she disappeared. Her Mom is ill and Tara's disappearance has had a devastating effect on her and the family.

:1222423: As always, thinking of Tara and her family.

[KittyMom]

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/042508/news_2008042500362.shtml

Story updated at 10:12 PM on Friday, April 25, 2008

Authorities in Jackson County have asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab to try to identity human remains found under a bridge on Interstate 85.

Pieces of a human skeleton, including a skull, were found Friday afternoon by hikers exploring a wooded area west of where I-85 crosses Georgia Highway 98 in Commerce, said David Cochran, chief deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies searched the area Saturday morning, collected the bones and sent them to the crime lab for identification.

Until technicians come back with some results, there is little investigators can say. The sex, age and race of the person are unclear at this point, Cochran said.

"We believe they are from an adult person, but that's all we know," he said.

Investigators are also not certain if the person was killed or died of natural causes.

"That's something that the doctors are going to have to tell us," Cochran said.

What is clear, Cochran said, is that the remains had been in the woods for a while.

He doesn't think the bones belong to anyone who has gone missing in Jackson County, but they could be connected to crime in another jurisdiction. This is not the first time human remains have been dumped along the interstate in Jackson County, he said.


Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 042508

[Hey Paula]

Thanks, KM!

Unfortunately, not much more has been learned, and it appears that it might take some time to identify those remains. The services of a forensic anthropologist might even become necessary to identify gender and age.

Thanks again for posting the updated report and the link.

[Nut44x4]

NEWS FROM WEBSLEUTHS
Posted Yesterday, 02:19 PM by concernedperson
Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,689

Estimates on the skull recovered was more than 6 months but less than 3 years. No other remains found. Trying to find out about clothing, shoes or jewelry that may have been found in the area, if any.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2304628

[Nut44x4]

Skull still a mystery for police
By Merritt Melancon | merritt.melancon@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 11:50 PM on Sunday, June 22, 2008


It's been two months since hikers found a skull near an Interstate 85 overpass in Jackson County, and authorities still have few leads pointing to the identity of the body.

Forensic anthropologist Rick Snow of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who spends his days putting names to unidentified bodies, has found that the skull had been under the overpass for anywhere between six months and three years.

It belonged to a man, but it doesn't match either of the two headless skeletons that have been found in Georgia over the past year. "It's very, very rare that we see three dismembered skeletons in one year," Snow said.

In addition to the skull found in Jackson County, authorities also are trying to identify a dismembered skeleton that was found in November in Troupe County. Another set of dismembered bones was found last summer in Newton County.

There's nothing to suggest that these cases are related, Snow said. However, it is statistically rare for killers to dismember their victims. "One of the main reasons to dismember someone is to make them harder to identify," Snow said.

But the Jackson County skull, at least, has teeth that Snow can compare to the dental records of missing men in Georgia, and samples of its DNA can be sent to the National Missing Persons DNA Database, which is operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "But not everybody who goes missing is reported missing, and not everyone who is missing wants to be found," Snow warned.

Snow would not say whether the skull looked as if it had separated naturally from the body or if the body was dismembered by a person. He also would not say if the person had died of natural causes.

It's not likely someone from Jackson County, David Cochran, chief deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, said when the skull first was found. The county hasn't had any reports of missing people lately, he said.


http://onlineathens.com/stories/062308/news_20080623025.shtml

[Nut44x4]

Could a 'Mod' please add MALE to the thread title? Thank you.

[packy]

I did but it is confusing, Nut. Did the skeletal remains include the skull. At first they were saying a woman's remeains. Hmmmm.

[Nut44x4]

Yes......a skull near Interstate 85 . When they reported it being a woman, they said 'likely a woman' as they were not sure. I guess now they know it is male. ?

The other two remains found at a different times and locations were headless. It is confusing.

[packy]

I hear you. At least now they know the gender.

[Tam5115]

I have e-mailed Sheriff Byrd in Jackson county concerning the April 23, 2008 discovery.

I hope to hear back from him.

[Tam5115]

I have also e-mailed Merritt Melancon who was the journalist of the last update we had on this.

[Claycat]

I wonder if the headless victims were more of Gary Hilton's work.

[Tam5115]

I heard from Melancon and PM'd Packy. They have still not identified this skull but Melancon is going to write about it again due to my e-mail. Yay!

[packy]

I heard from Melancon and PM'd Packy. They have still not identified this skull but Melancon is going to write about it again due to my e-mail. Yay!

So glad he is going to write about it again.

Thank you, Tam.

[Tam5115]

I just now realized that I e-mailed the wrong Sheriff of Jackson County. Due to a little confusion earlier... I had MS and not GA. LOL Packy. I bet Byrd is going... :waitasec:

[packy]

I just now realized that I e-mailed the wrong Sheriff of Jackson County. Due to a little confusion earlier... I had MS and not GA. LOL Packy. I bet Byrd is going... :waitasec:

Two cases with same county names can cause some confusion. I was confused too.

[Nut44x4]

Unsolved Cases > Unidentified Remains > UID Database

Jefferson, GA in Jackson County near the Oconee River Bridge near I-85.
Incident Date: Apr 19, 2008
Race: White
Location: Jefferson, GA in Jackson County near the Oconee River Bridge near I-85.
Weight: Unknown
Height: Unknown
Sex: Male
Birth Range: 1943-1976
Hair Color: Curly Black Hair
Eyes: Unknown

Contact:
GBI Athens
Phone:
706-542-7901
Other Information:
Skull and four cervical vertebrae found by hikers. Time of death one and a half years to 3 months. Homicide.
http://gbi.georgia.gov/00/case_detail/0,2695,67862954_89278958_129066332,00.html

[Nut44x4]

Jefferson, GA in Jackson County near the Oconee River Bridge near I-85
http://gbi.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_83433662/129066311Jackson%20County,%202008.jpg
Date Found: Apr 19, 2008
Race: White
Location: Jefferson, GA in Jackson County near the Oconee River Bridge near I-85
Weight: Unknown
Height: Unknown
Sex: Male
Birth Range: 1943 - 1976
Hair Color: Curly Black Hair
Eyes: Unknown
Contact:
GBI Athens Office - 706-542-7901
Narrative:
Skull and four cervical vertebrae found by hikers. Time of death one and a half years to 3 months. Determined to be a homicide.

http://gbi.georgia.gov/00/case_detail/0,2695,67862954_74030338_129066311,00.html