Missing Laurens County man with dementia found dead in Butts County, sheriff’s office believes
Missing Laurens County man with dementia found dead in Butts County, sheriff’s office believes
It comes over two weeks after Garland Warren, 82, was last seen in Roberta. His family says he had dementia.
BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. — Editors note: the video attached to this story is from previous coverage.
The remains of 82-year-old Garland Warren were discovered in Butts County Friday evening after going missing from Laurens County over two weeks ago, the Spalding and Laurens County Sheriff’s Office believes.
In a Facebook post, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office said they found Warren. But Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean said the sheriff’s office notified them of the discovery of remains that they were “99% sure” was Warren’s body.
Dean says his family has been notified at this time.
“Please keep the family of Mr. Garland Warren in your prayers,” the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office said in his post.
His body was found in the area of Highway 16 in Butts County right near the Spalding and Butts County line, according to GBI Special Agent in Charge Mary Chandler.
Warren had been missing for over two weeks after driving off from his home in Rentz on June 10. His last confirmed sighting was in Roberta asking for directions.
His truck was originally found on Wallace Road in Butts County by a couple on four-wheelers on June 15 before it had been moved. That was the area that Robert Peppers and Kelly Osborne told the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office they pulled his truck from, according to the sheriff’s office.
Dean says his remains were found in that area. He’s sending two deputies up to Butts County to assist the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. The GBI has taken over the scene, Dean says, but Spalding and Butts are assisting.
Peppers and Osborne were the ones who were accused of driving Warren’s truck and dropping it off at a Dollar General parking lot in Griffin, which is where authorities finally found Warren’s body. Peppers and Osborne are charged with theft for being in possession of Warren’s truck.
The GBI says crime scene technicians have arrived on the scene. They are collecting evidence and will send the body to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy.
They have not fully identified the victim because his body has likely been there for some time, the GBI says.
This is a developing story. We’ll update this story when more information is available.
More on Garland Warren’s Disappearance
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