Update: Missing woman’s body found in Forsyth Co.
News September 25, 2019
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced today the body of 21-year-old Hannah Bender, has been found in a partially-wooded, partially-pasture land area off Parks Road in Forsyth County.
Hannah Bender
Authorities with the Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation were led to the discovery through leads developed during the investigation.
Ms. Bender’s mother reported her missing Sept. 14 and a murder warrant was issued for her one-time boyfriend Austin Todd Stryker, 21, of Dawson County. Authorities also want to talk to 78-year-old Jerry Harper they describe as a person of interest.
Investigators found a black Ford Ranger pickup truck on Monday near where the body was discovered they believe belongs to Harper.
Austin Todd Stryker
The West Virginia State Patrol Facebook page reports that Stryker was seen in Clay County, West Virginia.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Captain Marcus Sewell at 706-974-6824.
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Authorities locate body of Hannah Bender in Forsyth County
News September 25, 2019
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced today the body of 21-year-old Hannah Bender, has been found in a partially-wooded, partially pasture-land area off Parks Road in Forsyth County.
Authorities with the Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation were led to the discovery through leads developed during the investigation.
Ms. Bender’s mother reported her missing Sept. 14 and a murder warrant was issued for her one-time boyfriend Austin Todd Stryker.
Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body Found in Banks County.
News June 23, 2017
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body
Commerce, Georgia – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is seeking the public’s help in identifying human remains found near Interstate 85 in Banks County.
On Sunday, February 5, 2017, a skeleton was discovered in a wooded area near New Salem Methodist Church, at 2170 Highway 59, in Commerce. The body’s location was one mile south of I-85, Exit 154 for Toccoa/SR 63/Martin Bridge Road. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office requested GBI’s assistance with the investigation.
A forensic anthropological examination estimates the remains to be of an African American/Hispanic female, approximately 30-44 years of age, and approximately 4’9’ to 5’6” in height. The date of death is estimated to be up to 4 years prior to the time of discovery.
Found among the remains, was a metal ring and a butterfly necklace charm (see attached photographs). Blue, purple, and gray in color fabrics were also collected from the scene. Dental is available for comparison.
Anyone with information concerning the case is asked to call the GBI Athens office at 706-552-2309 or the Banks County Sheriff’s Office at 706-677-2248. Information may also be submitted on-line here.
Remains Found in Tosha Herron Case
Police & Government April 21, 2017
Dahlonega, GA. – On Thursday, April 20, 2017, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Rapid Response Team to conduct a large scale woodlands search of the area where Tosha Herron’s wrecked vehicle was found on October 12, 2016 off of Highway 129 North in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The area is considered the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area. This search was expanded beyond the areas previously searched by law enforcement since October 2016.
During the operation, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Rapid Response Team located a boot that was the mate to Herron’s boot found shortly after the discovery of the accident in October. Additionally, the Rapid Response Team located what appears to be human remains. The remains were collected by the GBI Crime Scene Specialist and will be transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Officer for examination and identification.
Body Found – Suspect Arrested in Lumpkin County Murder
News December 5, 2016
LUMPKIN CO., Ga. – The body of a missing Murrayville woman was found early Sunday in the woods off Hwy. 60 just north of Dahlonega. The man she had been linked to romantically has been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Deputies with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation located the body of 41-year-old Wanda Kay McDougald about one mile south of the Union County line shortly after midnight.
Hall County deputies located 52-year-old John Harol Whitfield at a home in Clermont Sunday afternoon. He has been charged with murder and aggravated assault and booked into the Lumpkin County jail.
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said McDougald and Whitfield had lived together for more than a year.
An autopsy is pending. Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.