The hanging victim found Sunday, November 29, in an abandoned barn just off of U.S. Highway 27 north of Colquitt has been identified with fingerprints and police records.

The hanging body was discovered when a man and woman were traveling from Columbus to Tallahassee, and the “call of nature” prompt- ed the man to pull over at the old barn. What he found inside made him call 911 to bring officers to the scene.

The scene and the body were turned over to the G.B.I. for investigation. The body was sent to the crime lab for autopsy and possible manner and cause of death.

The body had been hanging there for quite awhile.

According to Coroner Danny Sheffield, the crime lab had the body identified on December 8, by fingerprints and prior records of drug and alcohol abuse, but the next of kin had not been notified of the death, so the information on the deceased could not be released.

The report indicated that the hanging victim was a native of Pulaski County, Hawkinsville. The decedent is listed as Sam Thomas Nation, 56, and the family had not seen him since August. He left the area of his home walking, according to family members.

Sheriff H.E. Glass stated that in his conversations with officials, he learned the victim’s brother had died recently. The hanging victim had a history of being suicidal and had a history of drug and alcohol problems. He stated that he knew he had two children, but did not know if he was married now.

The hanging incident is still under investigation. The investigator was informed that the victim wrote a letter to his sister recently, but a copy of the letter has not been obtained to date.

An unofficial finding is that the hanging victim’s death was caused by self-inflicted hanging/ suicide. The victim, could have been hanging in the barn from one to five months, depending on the temperature.