Clayton News Daily

By Linda Looney-Bond

lbond@news-daily.com

Clayton County Police say human remains discovered last month near an on-ramp to Interstate 675 at Ga. Highway 138 appear to belong to a man who apparently died a violent death.

"There's evidence in the bone structure of trauma," said Clayton County Police Detective Mike Christian, who said the death has been ruled a homicide.

"The bones had knife pricks where he obviously had been stabbed," added Clayton County Police Chief Jeff Turner.

"We still have not identified the person, but the investigation is ongoing, and we are following up on several leads as to the identity," Turner said.

A homeless man discovered the bones May 20 and contacted police, according to authorities.

Christian said the remains appear to belong to a man who was between age 43 to 66 - likely in his 50's, and about 6 feet tall.

"GBI [Georgia Bureau of Investigation] anthropology said it was a white male with mixed features, possibly Native American," said Christian.

He said it appears the victim was homeless. "He was wearing a Southpole 21 shirt with a cross-type pattern on it, dark in color," he said. "He had on a pair of gray shorts."

Christian said the man appeared to have a total of nine teeth - all bottom teeth, no upper teeth. He said it did not appear the teeth were lost at the time of death. "Holes where the other teeth were, had long since healed over," said Christian.

He said the man could have died anywhere from "a couple of months, to a couple of years" ago.

Christian said a reward has been offered in the case, but he did not have information regarding the amount of the reward.

Anyone with information in the case, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477.