Miller County’s Rock City barn, site of hanging incident just off of US Highway 27 Two young people headed for Tallahassee, Florida, were traveling south on U.S. Highway 27 north of Colquitt last Sunday November 29. The “call of nature” had Charlie Field of Tallahassee pull off the highway near an old dilapidated barn. However, Field got more than he bargained for when he discovered a body hanging in the center of the barn. Jessica Miller of Tallahassee called Miller E911 at 3:21 p.m. Miller County Sheriff’s Deputy Dale Glover was dispatched to the scene where the man who discovered the body showed the deputy his findings.

The scene was roped off, and a G.B.I. scene team was requested to help with the investigation since the body was badly decomposed.

According to Sheriff H.E. Glass, the GBI will help determine how and when the victim died and who he is.

Coroner Danny Sheffield pronounced the victim at the scene Sunday, November 29, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. The body will be sent to the Georgia State Crime Lab in Macon for an autopsy. The crime lab will attempt to give a manner and cause of death, as well as a time of death. As soon as the report on possible identification of the victim is made, it will be published.

Some of the remnants of the old barn look like a cross over the hanging site. (See barn on front page with cross on left top.) At the time of discovery, it was determined that the victim was a white male in his middle age, app roximately 40-50 years old. The victim was app roximately 5’8” or 5’9”. One print was obtained from the hand of the de- ceased, and it was sent for processing. It has been estimated that the body could have been hanging there for a number of weeks or longer.

The incident occurred on the property of Jones-Long Farm. One of the owners stated he was proud someone found the body, since they may not have gone back to the barn until the next gathering season.

The case is being investigated by Agent Mike Murphy of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as a homicide.

Any information concerning the person’s identity should be given to the Miller County Sheriff’s Office at 758-3421 or the G.B.I. at 229-255-4090.