The Disappearance and Murder of Latania Janell Carwell

Latania Janell Carwell (pictured left) was last seen alive on the evening of April 17th, 2017—the day before her 16th birthday. The teen, who went by her middle name Janell, was last seen around 1:30 AM at her family’s home in Augusta, Georgia. According to Janell’s mother, Tanya Tripp (pictured top right), Janell left with her stepfather Leon Tripp (pictured bottom right) en route to Clarks Hill, South Carolina. 

Tanya reported that Leon apparently got a call from a friend in Clarks Hill who got his car stuck, and Leon and Janell went to help him. Per Tanya's narrative, the two the two did not return as planned. She reported them missing the next day.

On April 26th, 2017, police found Leon’s car abandoned just a mile away from their home. The car was processed, and it apparently yielded no DNA evidence or additional clues about the whereabouts of Janell and/or Leon. However, the police also investigated their cell phone data—which indicated that they never went to Clarks Hill. 

As the news about Leon and Janell’s disappearance began to spread, police began to receive tips that Leon had been seen more than a hundred miles away in Atlanta—without Janell. In fact, Leon had been spotted for the first time in Atlanta on April 21st—just a few days after he was last seen with Janell. Police discovered that Leon had ties to Atlanta and had been staying with friends in that area. 

According to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, Leon actually made two or three trips back and forth while authorities were actively looking for him and Janell. The numerous tips that police received about Leon indicated that Leon was alive and unharmed—but there were still no news or sightings of Janell. As a result, authorities issued kidnapping warrants for Leon on May 1st, 2017.

Meanwhile, suspicions were growing against Tanya as well. Tanya continued to express concern for her daughter in the media, however she also adamantly expressed that she did not believe Leon had harmed Janell. The day after the warrants were issued, reporters from local NewsChannel 6 asked Tanya if it was possible that Leon and Janell had secretly been in a relationship. Tanya responded, “He married to all this prettiness and he gon’ run away with our daughter? Come on now. That’s stupid!” 

That statement seemed odd and wildly inappropriate for a mother with a missing daughter to say—but the odd behavior did not end there. The events that followed revealed a harrowing amount of evidence that both Leon and Tanya had a hand in Janell's disappearance.

-

Leon and Tanya are apprehended.

Once it was discovered that Leon had travelled from Atlanta to Augusta several times while there was an active search for him, many believed that Tanya knew of Leon’s whereabouts the entire time; he was never truly “missing” at all. These beliefs were only strengthened on May 23rd, 2017, when police were finally able to track Leon down. 

On that day, US marshals in Atlanta were searching for him when he was finally spotted at a local U-Haul facility. When officers cornered him there, he was not alone. Right by his side was his wife, Tanya Tripp. Both were arrested on the spot. Leon was charged with kidnapping, and Tanya was charged with hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

A changed story; upgraded charges.

After the arrests, Leon denied harming Janell. He said that he and Janell were actually heading to Atlanta the night of April 17th, instead of Clarks Hill. At some point during the trip, Leon said that he gave Janell money to take the bus back to Augusta and has not seen her since. Tanya continued to deny any involvement as well. 

Almost a year later, in March 2018, Janell’s remains were found behind a vacant lot in Richmond County, Georgia—not far from her home in Augusta. Shortly thereafter, Leon had first-degree murder added to his charges, and Tanya had second-degree murder added to hers. 

Additional evidence of premeditation.

In June 2020, it was revealed that prosecutors filed a motion to introduce evidence of additional crimes allegedly committed by Leon Tripp and Tanya Tripp. The evidence states that Leon and Tanya reportedly solicited someone to kill Latania Janell Carwell on three separate occasions prior to her disappearance in April 2017. According to documents, the couple attempted to do this in both September and December 2015, and then one other time in October 2016. 

Those solicitation attempts were obviously unsuccessful/never completed, as Janell was still alive until April 2017. However, the fact that they had attempted to solicit a hitman to kill Janell numerous times before her disappearance indicated that her disappearance and death were, in fact, premeditated by her mother and stepfather.

A slow journey to justice.

Many believed that Leon and Tanya were responsible for Janell's disappearance since the onset of the investigation. Janell's loved ones and Augusta locals alike were glad to see that the couple was facing charges related to her kidnapping and murder. However, it would take many years for the cases to move forward.

Leon and Tanya were tried together, and their trial finally began in late February 2026. During the trial, the prosecution laid out their case that the couple had conspired together to end Janell's life. Meanwhile, Leon and Tanya had their own respective defense teams who pointed the finger at one another as being responsible for Janell's death.

Guilty verdicts.

After the evidence was presented from all sides, the jury began their deliberations. They ultimately found both Leon and Tanya guilty on all counts. Leon received the following sentences for each charge:

• Count 1, malice murder - life without parole.
• Count 2, felony murder - life without parole.
• Count 3, aggravated assault-family violence - 20 years consecutive sentence.
• Count 4, concealing the death of another - 10 years (runs concurrent with the Count 3 sentence).

Tanya received the following sentences for each charge:

• Count 1, malice murder - life without parole.
• Count 2, felony murder - life without parole.
• Count 3, aggravated assault-family violence - 20 years.
• Count 4, concealing the death of another - 10 years.

The couple are likely to remain behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Rest in peace, Janell.

-
Sources:
Atlanta Black Star
WJBF
WRDW

The Murder of Sandra Robinson

 

Sandra Robinson was tragically killed at her workplace on March 17th, 2010. The 32-year-old woman worked at Prepaid Superstore in Douglas, Georgia at the time of her murder. It’s believed that she was stabbed to death between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, during the store’s business hours.

Sandra is remembered as a kind person, a reliable worker, and a dedicated mother to her four children. Those children have had to grow up without their mother. Sandra’s entire circle of loved ones remains left without answers or justice. Over 15 years passed with seemingly no updates on the case.

The Prepaid Superstore where Sandra was killed is located in a decently busy area of Douglas. The store is in close proximity to PCC Probation, Walgreens, Flash Food and Rountree Park. Despite this potential for witnesses, there did not appear to be any immediate substantial tips from witnesses that lead to an arrest. There were reportedly no surveillance cameras at the store during the time of the murder. 

Reports state that Sandra was found deceased by her boyfriend, who had come to pick her up from work that evening. The boyfriend subsequently called the police. It was soon determined that Sandra had been killed by multiple stab wounds. 

Sandra’s boyfriend has never been publicly named. Investigators declined to publicly label him - or anyone else - as a person of interest for over 15 years. Family members always believed that the investigators knew more about the case than they publicly shared.

Finally, in 2026 - 16 years after Sandra's murder - a substantial update was provided. On March 4th, 2026, the GBI announced that a man named Willie James Jr. has been arrested and charged with the murder of Sandra Robinson. Investigators noted that James, now 58 years old, "was an associate of [Sandra] and could often be found at the store." Advancements in forensic testing are what finally led to his arrest.

The case against Willie James Jr. is currently pending. Updates on the case will be provided if/when they become available.

Sources:
Atlanta News First
Georgia Bureau of Investigation,
Pining Podcast
WALB, (2)

The Disappearance of Kayla Miller

 

Kayla Miller has been missing since April 13th, 2015. The young teen was last seen in Marietta, Georgia. She was only 13 years-old at the time of her disappearance.

According to Missing Persons in America, Kayla and her family members were staying in a hotel at the time of her disappearance. She reportedly left that morning from said hotel to walk to school but never arrived at any of her classes. Kayla also never returned to the hotel, and her family members have never seen or heard from her again. 

Various sources state that authorities believe Kayla left on her own accord. It’s unknown what evidence, if any, investigators have to support the theory that she ran away. Some sources state that authorities believe Kayla might have stayed in the local area - but it’s unclear where, exactly, she could have gone or how she could have stayed hidden. 

Over a decade has passed since Kayla’s disappearance, and she still remains classified as a runaway. There has been minimal news reporting on her disappearance, and details about her case are very scarce. Many questions remain - such as, why do police believe Kayla ran away? Why has the media seemingly ignored the case of a missing child? And is anyone still looking for her?

As of today, all of those questions remain unanswered, as Kayla remains missing. At the time of her disappearance, Kayla was 5’11” and approximately 150 lbs. If you have any information that could lead to Kayla’s whereabouts, please contact the Marietta Police Department at 770-794-5300.

Sources:
Charley Project
Marietta Daily Journal
Missing People in America
NamUs
NCMEC
The Vivid Faces of the Vanished
WSBTV

The Murders of Kevin and Cedric Kind

Kevin (left) and Cedric (right) Kind.

The morning of July 13th, 2019 began as a normal day for the members of the Kind family. Kevin Kind, a 42-year-old resident of Fitzgerald, Georgia went to his job at a local car wash. By 8:30 AM, what was supposed to be a normal work shift quickly turned into a tragic event when Kevin was found shot to death inside the car wash. 

Approximately thirty minutes later, 40-year-old Cedric Kind was also found shot to death inside his Fitzgerald residence. Said residence is located just streets away from the car wash where his brother Kevin had been found shot less than an hour earlier. It was immediately believed that the killings were connected and not just a tragic coincidence. 

Loved ones of the Kind brothers stated they do not know who would want either of them dead. Kevin has been described as a kind man who loved his mother dearly. He worked at Johnson’s Car Wash and was called a “car wash legend” by his boss. Cedric, who was paralyzed from the waist down, has been described as a quiet but loving young man. Friends and family of both men have been left without answers and are still hoping to find justice.

Authorities have revealed very little about the status of the investigation. In 2023, it was reported that investigators believe the killings were gang related. However, no further information about that has been disclosed. No arrests have ever been made in the case.

The FBI has set a monetary reward that is available in exchange for information that could lead to an arrest and conviction of the killer(s) of Kevin and Cedric Kind. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the FBI's Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000 or submit a tip online.

Sources:
13 WMAZ
FBI
WALB News 10

WGXA
WRBL News 3

 

The Abduction and Murder of Kristi Cornwell

Source: GBI

The night of August 11th, 2009, began as a typical night for Kristi Cornwell. The 38-year-old woman was in Blairsville, Georgia. She was taking an evening walk shortly after 9:00 PM near her parent's house on Jones Creek Road while talking on the phone with her boyfriend, Douglas Davis. Neither Kristi nor Davis could have ever imagined that this conversation would be their last.

At some point during her walk, Kristi told Davis that a vehicle appeared to be approaching her. Moments later, Davis heard sounds of a struggle accompanied by Kristi shouting "don't take me!" The phone call disconnected shortly thereafter. Kristi was never seen alive by her loved ones again.

Davis reported what he heard to police, and a search for Kristi was immediately launched. A few days into the investigation, her cell phone was found approximately three miles away from the area where police believe Kristi was abducted. The professional search continued for over two weeks, but no further trace of Kristi was found. 

Meanwhile, both Union County detectives and Kristi's loved ones tried to contemplate a motive for her kidnapping. In the weeks that followed her disappearance, Kristi's brother Richard Cornwell told "Good Morning America" that "investigators were unsure whether his sister's abduction was random or if she was targeted, possibly in relation to her job as a former probation officer."

Cornwell never gave up on looking for his sister. He stayed in touch with detectives from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and completed his own searches for Kristi. In fact, on January 1st, 2011, Cornwell received information from the GBI that led him to search a 2-square-mile area in the woods near Moccasin Road in Union County. It was during the search that Cornwell uncovered human remains. Dental records later confirmed that Richard Cornwell had found the remains of his sister Kristi Cornwell.

Kristi's body had been badly burned and decomposed. An autopsy was unable to determine her exact cause of death. However, detectives immediately began to investigate her death as a murder. 

During the seventeen months that Kristi was missing, detectives had received and uncovered a lot of interesting information pertaining to her case - including a vehicle description and a sketch of a potential person of interest, an anonymous letter from a grandmother, and a police standoff that led to the death of a suspect.

Despite all of this, investigators have never been able to close Kristi's case. Both loved ones and detectives are left without one frustratingly unanswered question: Who killed Kristi Cornwell?

---

A look back at the investigation.

As noted above, it is believed Kristi was abducted along Jones Creek Road between 9:15 - 9:20 PM. Kristi was on the phone with her boyfriend, Douglas Davis, while taking an evening walk. Kristi told Davis about a vehicle that appeared to be approaching. Shortly thereafter, Davis listened as a struggle ensued between Kristi and her abductor. The call dropped moments later.

Searches for Kristi were conducted around Blairsville. Investigators from several agencies scoured various areas searching for clues. Professional divers searched Lake Nottley. It's known that Kristi's cell phone was found approximately three miles away from Jones Creek Road. Other than that, though, no other evidence of Kristi was found.

A vehicle description and a suspect sketch.

In December 2009, police released a vehicle description and a sketch of a man who was involved in an assault on a woman that took place in Cherokee County, North Carolina. The woman reported that she was attacked by a man driving a late model Nissan Xterra. At that time, it was announced that investigators believed this same man/vehicle could be connected to Kristi's disappearance. 

Source: GBI

The anonymous letter.

During January 2010, both the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous letter from a woman who stated that sketch resembled her then-27-year-old grandson. The woman wrote that, not only did her grandson drive a Nissan Xterra similar to the one described by investigators, but he also engaged in suspicious behavior around the time of Kristi's abduction. 

The grandmother's letter explained that her grandson had left her home in Cherokee County on the evening of August 11th and did not return until the following morning. When he arrived back at his grandmother's residence, he reportedly had scratches on his face and neck. He told his grandmother he had gotten into a fight. 

The grandmother further wrote that her grandson was also in the Cherokee County area during the December 2009 assault. This deepened the woman's suspicions about her grandson. She noted, "I want to give my grandson the benefit of doubt until proven otherwise. However, I will not turn a blind eye to my suspicions."

After receiving this letter, a public appeal was made for the grandmother to reveal her identity to investigators. An appeal was also made for anyone with information about the grandson or the vehicle to come forward. 

Another suspect: James Carringer. 

In April 2010, authorities in Gilmer County, Georgia received a warrant to arrest a 42-year-old man named James Carringer. The warrant was issued after Carringer reportedly abducted and raped a female Kennesaw State University student. It was also believed he tried to abduct a 10-year-old girl from an Easter egg hunt just days before police got the warrant for the rape case. When authorities went to arrest Carringer, he led them on a car chase. 

Police eventually cornered Carringer in his vehicle between Deering Road and 26th Street, after which a standoff shut down the area for several hours. Carringer did not comply with police demands. The standoff ended with Carringer shooting himself inside his car. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

While investigating Carringer, the GBI uncovered information that prompted them to look at him as a potential suspect in the abduction of Kristi as well. It was learned that Carringer's residence was just a few miles away from the street from which Kristi vanished. Additionally, Carringer was originally from Ranger in Cherokee County - where the December 2009 assault occurred. On top of that, Carringer owned 2 Nissan Xterras. 

Authorities executed warrants for Carringer's home and his two vehicles during April 2010. In August 2010, the GBI announced, "Nothing analyzed so far has connected Carringer to the Ranger case or to Kristi’s disappearance, but investigators are still pursuing this lead." At that time, Kristi Cornwell was still missing - making it even more difficult for prove that she had been harmed by Carringer.

January 2011: Kristi's body is found. 

Kristi's brother Richard Cornwell remained in touch with the GBI throughout the entire time that Kristi was missing. Cornwell was dedicated to finding his sister, and the GBI would provide him with information about where to search for her based on leads they had received. 

On New Year's Day in 2011, the GBI told Cornwell about the 2-mile radius in the woods near Moccasin Road that they planned to search after the holiday. Cornwell decided not to wait and went to search the area himself. It was during that search that he found the human remains that were later identified as that of his sister Kristi Cornwell. 

While the discovery of Kristi's body brought closure to her loved ones, it also left them with grief and unanswered questions. Kristi's death is an inevitably devastating loss for her family. Her son was only 15 years-old at the time of her disappearance. 

An unsolved case.

Over 15 years have passed since Kristi's murder, and it still remains unsolved. The GBI states that James Carringer still remains a prime suspect in the case, although they have never been able to find any definitive physical evidence linking him to Kristi's abduction and murder. Additionally, it is unknown if investigators have ever identified the grandson described in the anonymous letter. 

Both investigators and Kristi's loved ones are hoping to receive leads that allow them to finally close her case. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Kristi Cornwell, please contact the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online.

-
Sources:
ABC News
The Atlanta Journal Courier, (2)
CBS News
Coastal Courier
Fox 5 Atlanta
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
WSBTV

The Disappearance of Junaliza Chappell

 

Junaliza Chappell vanished under suspicious circumstances on February 16th, 2007. The then-27-year-old took a flight that day from West Palm Beach, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. Junaliza disappeared at some point after arriving in Atlanta. She has never been seen or heard from again.

According to reports, Junaliza planned to drive from Atlanta to California for a new job. However, it appears that there has not been any trace of her since she reportedly arrived in Atlanta on the day of her disappearance. A post about Junaliza's case on the Atlanta PD website states that she was eventually "reported as missing by a friend and a co-worker." 

Certain reports about Junaliza's disappearance mention that she was also seen by her husband on the day of her disappearance. In fact, Junaliza's case profile on Charley Project notes that her husband "stated he picked her up from the [Atlanta] airport and then they went to Walmart, and she went inside the store and never returned."

This narrative that was reportedly provided by her husband is suspicious for several reasons. By 2007, most major stores such as Wal-Mart and Target had surveillance cameras in and around their buildings. It's unknown if there is any footage that shows Junaliza entering a Wal-Mart on the day of her disappearance. If Junaliza was kidnapped or somehow injured inside the store, it seems likely that witnesses or surveillance footage would have captured that as well. 

It's also suspicious that Junaliza was reported missing by a friend/co-worker rather than her husband - especially given the story he provided about her disappearance. Despite all of this, though, Junaliza's husband has not been labeled as a person of interest, nor has any person at this point in the investigation.

There are very few details available about Junaliza's disappearance. The Atlanta Police Department has investigative agency over her case. If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Junaliza Chappell, please contact authorities at (404) 546-4235.

-
Sources:
Atlanta PD
Charley Project

NamUs
Uncovered

The Murder of Blake Chappell

 

Blake Chappell's life was headed in a positive direction during the fall of 2011. The then-17-year-old was adjusting to life in a new town after his family moved to Senoia, Georgia earlier that year. Previously, Blake and his mother Melissa lived in Clayton County. 

Melissa decided to move Senoia after Blake got into a physical altercation with the stepfather of his ex-girlfriend. The incident was tough on Blake, but he was doing seemingly well in Senoia. He quickly made new friends and started dating a new girlfriend. Unfortunately, before Blake's life could continue to flourish, he was brutally murdered. His murder remains unsolved today.

Blake was last seen alive during the early morning hours of October 16th, 2011. The previous evening, Blake attended his high school homecoming dance with his girlfriend, Rion. Blake reportedly had a great time at the dance - he called his mother afterwards to tell her that he had "the best night of his life." 

That phone call was the last time Blake spoke to his mother. Hours later, he vanished. Blake's mother reported him missing that same day. Over two months later, passersby in Summer Grove spotted human remains in a local creek near East Newnan. Those remains were later identified as that of Blake Chappell. 

An autopsy revealed that Blake died from a gunshot wound to the head. His death was labeled a homicide. There are several suspicious circumstances surrounding Blake's case. How did the purported best night of this 16-year-old's life end with his disappearance and murder? This question remains unanswered, but a look at the timeline leading up to Blake's disappearance, amongst other circumstances in Blake's life, may hold the key to solving his case. 

-

After the school dance.

As noted above, Blake attended his high school homecoming dance with his new girlfriend, Rion, on October 15th, 2011. The two were picked up from the dance by Rion's mother. They then went back to Rion's house where they watched a movie. Around 11:30 PM, Rion's mother drove Blake to his friend Austin's house, where he planned to spend the night. 

Once Blake got to Austin's house, he called his mother to check in. He was happy during their conversation; he told his mother he had a great time at the dance, and it was the best night of his life. 

Blake's disappearance. 

At some point between 2:00 and 3:00 AM, Blake snuck out of Austin's house and walked 3 miles back to Rion's house. He arrived there around 4:30 AM and snuck in through Rion's bedroom window. About half an hour later, one of Rion's relatives caught Blake and Rion together. Knowing he was not supposed to be there, Blake quickly left the residence and began walking back toward Austin's house. 

During his walk, Blake texted with Rion several times. Around 5:30 AM, he sent her a message saying he was stopped by a police officer who asked where he was going. He sent one final text a few minutes later before ceasing all communication. Blake never arrived back at Austin's house and was never heard from again.

Blake's mother, Melissa, was alerted about her son's disappearance around 11:00 AM, after Austin contacted her and said that Blake had left his house and never returned. Melissa reported Blake missing very shortly thereafter.

December 2011: Blake is found deceased.

Extensive searches for Blake ended unsuccessfully. Then, over two months later, passersby in Summer Grove spotted human remains in a local creek near East Newnan. Police were called, and the human remains were later identified as that of Blake Chappell. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

After the discovery of Blake's remains, the case shifted to a homicide investigation. 

The search for Blake's killer.

Blake's body was found wearing only underpants and an undershirt. However, when he left Rion's house on the morning of his disappearance, he was wearing black sweatpants, a white t-shirt and a jacket. None of these clothing items have ever been recovered. 

Additionally, Blake had his cell phone on him when he vanished, but investigators have never found said phone. This initially left detectives with very little to work with while investigating Blake's murder.

As previously mentioned, Blake and his mother moved to Senoia just months before his disappearance. The move was prompted by a physical altercation that occurred between Blake and his ex-girlfriend's stepfather. The ex-girlfriend had reportedly run away to Blake's house, and before Blake could bring her back home, her stepfather showed up. Blake sent a text to his friend about the incident, saying "her dad showed up wit two other guys nd guns tellin all my friends he was gunna kill me". 

Blake would later tell police that the man "punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him in the head." Despite this, Blake was the one who ended up arrested. He was charged with custodial interference, as his ex-girlfriend had run away with the intention of being with Blake. However, the charges were later dropped.

Blake's mother Melissa stated that she wanted to move Blake out of Clayton County after this incident because she was afraid for her son's life. Inevitably, police looked into this man after Blake was found murdered - but various reports say that the man has been cleared as a suspect.

According to uncovered.com, police cleared three other persons of interest in the case as well. In the years following Blake's murder, police continued to keep details about the investigation under wraps. In March 2024, it was announced that there some new developments in the case. 11 Alive reported that "police said they served three search warrants in the Sharpsburg area. Detectives collected new evidence, which is now in the hands of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for further testing and analysis." 

2025: An arrest is made.

In September 2025, it was reported that a man named Scotty Elliott Smith was recently identified as a person of interest in Blake's case. Smith, who had previously not been investigated for Blake's murder, was reportedly confronted by police with evidence that pointed to his involvement. At that point, Smith allegedly confessed to Blake's murder.

After his confession, Smith was taken into custody. He is being charged with "felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, concealing the death of another, and tampering with evidence."

Further details are currently unavailable. The case is still being investigated. If you have any additional information about Blake's murder, please contact authorities at (770) 254-2355.

Sources:

[Uncovered]

[Times Herald]

[11 Alive, 2]

[KHOU 11]

The Disappearance of Thomas 'TJ' Nigro

Source: Facebook

 
Thomas 'TJ' Nigro has been missing since January 5th, 2018. The then-31-year-old lived in Columbus, Georgia at the time of his disappearance. Many of TJ's personal belongings that he usually carried with him were left behind in his Columbus home - including his passport, car keys, cell phone, sunglasses, wallet, and a photograph of his daughter. TJ's loved ones have never seen or heard from him again.

After TJ was reported missing, a woman came forward, stating that she saw TJ hitchhiking in Columbus on January 23rd, 2018 - a few weeks after his disappearance. The woman explained that she picked him up and drove him to Franklin, Georgia. She dropped him off near the West Point Wildlife Management Area. 

TJ reportedly told the woman that he was meeting up with a friend in that area to go camping for a week. The woman noted that TJ had camping gear with him. She also said he had a cell phone - which indicates that he had a second phone in addition to the one that was found at his home. This encounter is the last known sighting of TJ.

Prior to disappearing, TJ was a ranger in the US Army. His training gave him the skills to survive in the woods for an extended period of time. However, TJ had also sustained head and back injuries during a previous deployment - and said injuries prevented him from traveling too far on his own. Due to this, TJ's loved ones were immediately concerned for his safety when they discovered that he had vanished.

Years have passed, and TJ still remains missing. Police in Columbus, Georgia have investigative agency in his case. If you have any information that could help solve TJ's disappearance, please contact the Columbus Police Department Special Victims Unit at (706) 653-3449.

-
Sources:
ABC 9
Charley Project
Finding TJ
Missing Persons Center
Missing Persons in America
Uncovered

The Disappearance and Death of Sharon Crawford

Source: ABC 27 Tallahassee

Sharon Crawford disappeared at the age of 43 on November 8th, 2018. She was last seen alive in Donalsonville, Georgia. When weeks went by without any word from Sharon, her concerned family reported her missing on November 27th, 2018.

On February 16th, 2019 - exactly 100 days after Sharon vanished - her shirt and bicycle were found inside a vacant building in Donalsonville. The discovery of these items intensified the police investigation, as detectives announced that they were chasing several leads at the time. Unfortunately, it seems that those leads never panned out, as the months continued to tick by without any further sign of Sharon.

Fifteen months after Sharon's disappearance, on February 11th, 2020, human skeletal remains were found in a field near the Donalsonville city limits. It took several months to identify the deceased, but in September 2020, it was announced that the remains were that of Sharon Crawford. Police confirmed that Sharon's remains were found dismembered, but at the time, they were still waiting on autopsy results to confirm an exact cause of death.

Years have passed, and there does not appear to be any reporting about the autopsy results or any additional information about Sharon's cause or manner of death. Though it seems likely her death was a homicide, this has never been confirmed by investigators. However, there are several details surrounding Sharon's disappearance and death that support the theory that she was murdered.

-
More on about Sharon's disappearance.

As noted above, Sharon was last seen alive on November 8th, 2018. It's known that she was last seen in Donalsonville, but the circumstances of her disappearance are otherwise mostly unclear. There has not been any publicly shared information about who saw Sharon last or any other events leading up to her going missing.

Sharon's disappearance was both baffling and worrisome to her loved ones. Her family reported her missing after nobody had seen or heard from her for approximately three weeks. Once the local news began to cover Sharon's disappearance, her child Jazmine Williams told reporters, "we reported her missing because it was weeks that we haven’t seen or heard from and normally we will get a call or stop by or something."

By all accounts, it was not like Sharon to just vanish. She had four children and was close with her other relatives. Other initial reports about Sharon's disappearance said that both family and police were concerned for her welfare. Those concerns intensified as the weeks stretched into months without any sign of Sharon. 

The search for Sharon. 

The news about Sharon's disappearance seemingly spurred worries amongst the Donalsonville locals as well. Donalsonville is small city with less than 3,000 residents. Locals expressed that disappearances from their small community were largely unheard of. As the word spread about Sharon being missing, some residents expressed their desire to help find her.

In February 2019, a search for Sharon was organized to take place in Donalsonville. The search included several people, including investigators, family members, and volunteers. As noted above, the search took place on February 16th, 2019 - exactly 100 days after Sharon vanished. At some point, searchers went inside a vacant building and found Sharon's shirt and bicycle. 

Messages to the family.

The discovery of Sharon's items created even more mystery surrounding her disappearance. Many commented that the discovery of these items was worrisome, especially if she was riding her bicycle and/or wearing that shirt when she was last seen. Even more questions arose, such as: how did Sharon become separated from those items? Who placed them in the vacant building? And what happened after that?

Around the same time the items were found, Sharon's aunt Rosie Brown told reporters that her family had received alarming messages about Sharon's fate. Rosie stated that, "a lot of [the messages] say she is dead, she’s been killed, she’s been thrown in the river, but the recent one we have gotten says she dead and been buried."

At the time of that reporting, it appears that Sharon's family did not know who was responsible for the messages. It is unclear if investigators ever looked into them. To this day, it is unknown if those messages were from cruel trolls or from someone with actual knowledge about Sharon's death.

Information from police.

Shortly after the search for Sharon, police also spoke out about their investigation. Donalsonville Police Chief Woodrow Blue Jr. confirmed that Sharon's bicycle and shirt were found in the vacant building during the search. Blue told reporters, "we were able to develop a couple of leads from [Sharon's bicycle and shirt], and we are following up on that."

In that same report, dated from February 20th, 2019, Blue mentioned that they were also "working with officials in Jackson County out in Florida" on the case as well. Jackson County is less than 40 miles away from Donalsonville - an approximate 45 to 60-minute drive. It's unknown how Sharon is connected to Jackson County, and investigators did not elaborate on how they ended up connecting with officials in that area. 

February 11th, 2020: human remains are found. 

On February 11th, 2020, human skeletal remains were found in a field near the Donalsonville city limits, specifically off Burl Lane Road and Robbie Forrest Road. 

Source: Google maps

It is unclear who found the remains, as there does not appear to be news about that at this time. It could have been a passerby who found them, or it could have been the result of a search - but this has never been elaborated upon. 

September 2020: remains identified as Sharon; more unknowns arise.

In September 2020, it was announced that the remains were that of Sharon Crawford. At that time, Donalsonville Police Chief Blue told reporters that "The remains of Sharon Crawford has been found dismembered in a field just out of city limits off Burlane (sic) Road." He was also quoted stating that they were still waiting on autopsy results to confirm an exact cause/manner of death.

The fact that Chief Blue specifically mentioned that Sharon's remains were found dismembered is interesting, as it suggests that someone might have dismembered her body before disposing of her in the field. However, due to the fact that Sharon was found 15 months after she vanished, it's possible that wildlife or other environmental factors are responsible for the dismemberment. Police have yet to elaborate on their opinion of why they believe Sharon was found in such a state.

As previously noted, there does not appear to be any further news about Sharon's autopsy results. Whether or not it has been completed, or whether or not it was conclusive, has not been shared with the public. Now several years have passed, and the mystery of what happened to Sharon is still very much just that - a mystery. 

Potential theories. 

As also previously stated there are many suspicious aspects of Sharon's disappearance and death that suggest she was murdered:

• Sharon abruptly stopped contacting her family members/loved ones, which was uncharacteristic of her behavior. There are no reports to indicate she had a habit of dropping out of touch.
  
  
• Sharon's shirt and bicycle were found in a vacant building. This is suspicious for several reasons; most of them mentioned earlier in this write-up. It does not seem likely that one would simply abandon their personal items in a vacant building, especially an item that was seemingly used for transportation. This could suggest that Sharon encountered foul play while riding her bicycle.
  
  
• Sharon's family reportedly received messages stating she was dead and had been buried. While it appears that she was not actually found buried, the messages were correct about Sharon being deceased. If those messages were legitimate, it indicates that at the very least, someone knew that she was dead long before her remains were found. 
  
  
• Sharon's remains were found in the Donalsonville city limits. She was found in the same city from which she vanished. Due to Donalsonville's small size, it's likely that her body was not far from the area she was last seen. While investigators stated that they looked into areas Sharon was known to frequent, nothing seemed to pan out from that. Investigators also stated they were working with authorities in Jackson County, Florida while Sharon was missing - but it appears that Sharon never actually left Donalsonville. 
  
  

All of the above statements suggest that Sharon did not voluntarily vanish. While this does not mean in absolute terms that she was murdered, at the very least it seems likely that someone out there knows exactly what happened to Sharon. 

An unsolved case.

As of today, it appears that Sharon's case remains unsolved. If you have any information that could solve her case, please contact the Donalsonville Police Department at 229-524-2175.

-
Sources:

Charley Project
Dothan First, (2), (3)
News 3
WCTV