From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Skeletal remains found in McMinn County on October 19 have been identified as those of a Fort Oglethorpe man, missing f
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Skeletal remains found in McMinn County on October 19 have been identified as those of a Fort Oglethorpe man, missing from 2016.
David Abbott was reported missing on June 23, 2016. His abandoned truck was recovered the next day in McMinn County, in a driveway on County Road 126 just off Highway 30, west of Athens.
Abbott’s partial skeletal remains were found by a group of hunters off Highway 30 west of Athens, in a wooded area near County Road 119, about 200 feet off the highway.
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said “The remains were sent to the Forensics Center in Knoxville on Thursday. On Monday we were contacted by retired Fort Oglethorpe Detective Steve Blevins about the possibility of the person being related to a case Detective Blevins had worked in 2016. Detective Blevins contacted the Forensics Center about his cold case, and they were able to confirm the identification as David Abbott, of Fort Oglethorpe.”
Both McMinn County officers and Fort O Detective Blevins had searched the area in 2016, but Abbott was not found.
Family members said Abbott suffered from mental health issues, as well as numerous other health problems.
Investigators say that there is no evidence of foul play, thinking Abbott walked off into the wooded area and passed away shortly after leaving his truck on County Road 126. His body was located about ¾ mile from the location where his truck was found in 2016.
Sheriff Guy said the case originated when Mr. Abbott was reported missing in Fort Oglethorpe on June 23, 2016. The next day, Mr. Abbott’s truck was located in McMinn County, abandoned in a driveway on County Road 126 just off Hwy 30 west of Athens. Both McMinn County officers and Detective Blevins had searched the area but Mr. Abbott was not located.
According to family members, Mr. Abbott suffered from mental health issues, as well as numerous other health problems. Investigators say that there is no evidence of foul play; that Mr. Abbott seems to have walked off into the wooded area and passed away shortly after leaving his truck on County Road 126. Mr. Abbott’s body was located approximately ¾ mile from the location his truck was found in 2016.
“Detective Blevins and our officers had communicated several times over the past six years about this case,” said Sheriff Guy. “So we are fortunate to have located Mr. Abbott, confirm his identity, and bring some peace to his family. We appreciate the assistance of the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, but especially Detective Blevins, who even in his retirement kept working diligently on this case.”
This identification closes the case on Abbott, but Guy said his office and retired Detective Blevins will remain in contact with the family and for resources they might need.
PREVIOUS STORY: An investigation is underway after human remains were found off Highway 30 east in McMinn County late last week.
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy tells Local 3 News that hunters found what appeared to be skeletal human remains in a wooded area off Highway 30 west of Athens, near County Road 119 Thursday morning.
“Our deputies spoke with the group of hunters, who directed them to the site several yards off the highway,” Guy said. “The area was immediately secured as a possible crime scene.”
The partial human remains were collected by detectives and deputies as they went to the scene.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney General’s Office are assisting in the investigation.
The remains were sent to the Knoxville Forensics Center.
“The case remains active,” Guy added. “The present evidence prevents any definite rendering of a cause of death, age or sex of the victim until the Forensics Center conducts further testing.”
An investigation is underway after human remains were found off Highway 30 east in McMinn County late last week.
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy tells Local 3 News that hunters found what appeared to be skeletal human remains in a wooded area off Highway 30 west of Athens, near County Road 119 Thursday morning.
“Our deputies spoke with the group of hunters, who directed them to the site several yards off the highway,” Guy said. “The area was immediately secured as a possible crime scene.”
The partial human remains were collected by detectives and deputies as they went to the scene.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney General’s Office are assisting in the investigation.
The remains were sent to the Knoxville Forensics Center.
“The case remains active,” Guy added. “The present evidence prevents any definite rendering of a cause of death, age or sex of the victim until the Forensics Center conducts further testing.”
