The White County Sheriff’s Office says searchers looking for a missing man discovered human remains in a heavily wooded location in northern White County. The remains found on Wednesday are believed to be those of Heath Williams.
Williams was last seen in late July in the area of Rose Road and 75 Alternate near Mountain Lakes Resort northwest of Cleveland. The sheriff’s office alerted the public that he was missing in a post on its Facebook page on August 4. Officials have not released details of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. The Criminal Investigations Division did release a press release Wednesday afternoon stating the remains were found after a “long and extensive multi-agency search.”
“The deceased has been taken for an autopsy to learn the positive identification of the subject. There is no foul play suspected at this time,” the release states.
Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security Area 1 Field Coordinator Don Strength was in White County Tuesday setting up the ground search. Strength said they had personnel deployed to the area but a severe thunderstorm with lightning prevented them from entering the woods.
Tuesday’s search operation was discontinued after GEMA was dispatched to assist with a rescue on Yonah Mountain after five Fort Benning Army soldiers were injured when a storm swept through. Two of the soldiers died.
Investigators say the investigation into Williams’ disappearance will continue pending the autopsy report.
