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Authorities locate pickup truck connected to missing woman

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Authorities today located a Ford Ranger pickup truck they believe is connected to Hannah Bender, the 21-year-old Lumpkin County woman reported missing Sept. 14.

A murder warrant was issued last week for her former boyfriend 21-year-old Austin Todd Stryker.

Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said Monday the GBI, U.S. Marshals, and law enforcement agencies in Dawson and Forsyth counties have joined in the search for Stryker and a 2000 white Ford Explorer, license plate PXH 4402.

Austin Stryker

Stryker was last seen with 78-year-old Jerry Harper who they believe is the owner of the Ford Ranger recovered today. Jarrard named Harper as a person of interest.

Lumpkin County Sheriff’s deputies searched an area between Lumpkin and Dawson counties Saturday and located bloody clothing and other items believed to belong to the missing woman.

She was reported missing by her mother Carol Gilreath Sept. 14.

Anyone with information about Ms. Bender or Austin Todd Stryker is asked to contact Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Captain Marcus Sewell at 706-974-6824.

“I would like to ask everyone to keep Ms. Bender and her family in their prayers,” Jarrard said.

Jerry Harper

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