Body found near Pitts Park in Clarkesville

Authorities say it could be months before they know the identity of the person whose remains were found Thursday afternoon near Pitts Park in Clarkesville. The heavily decomposed body was discovered around 5 p.m. on the upstream north side of Judge Homer Sutton Bridge on GA-197 North.

There is speculation the body could be that of Shane Justice, a homeless man known to live at the park who has been missing since August 1. Habersham County Deputy Coroner Ken Franklin tells Now Habersham the bones do appear to be those of a male. He adds there is “circumstantial evidence” indicating the remains could be Justice but adds “anything at this point would be mostly speculation.” Based on the level of decomposition, Franklin estimates the body had been there between three to four weeks.

Searchers find body

Justice’s estranged wife and a family friend discovered the body while out searching for him. It was hidden from plain view by undergrowth and could not be seen from the top of the bridge. The body was found near a trail approximately 15-20 feet from the Soque River, according to authorities. Habersham County Sheriff’s Lt. Matthew Wurtz says investigators are treating the case as a suspicious death. Franklin says at this point there’s no sign of foul play. He adds, “All deaths are treated as suspicious until you actually know what happened and, at this point, we don’t know.”

Investigators are now trying to piece together what information they can with the clothing and other items found at the scene. A man known to have lived at the park with Justice showed up on Thursday as authorities were removing the body. He was taken to the sheriff’s office to be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Wurtz says officials are looking into whether the person died where they were found or if the body might have been placed there. He says the fact so many people missed it while searching for Justice raises suspicions.

“We have been down here. We have looked in this area and not just us, but family members and friends and everybody else,” he says. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency brought in a cadaver dog at the request of local authorities and searched the area last week. Wurtz says his experience with canines makes it difficult for him to understand how, as badly decomposed as the body was, the dog – and others – could have missed it.

The Lieutenant disputes critics who say law enforcement did not pay as much attention to Justice’s case as they should have because he was homeless.

“To the sheriff’s office and to anybody in public safety or in law enforcement it really doesn’t matter if you have a home or not. When it all boils down, everybody’s human. Everybody’s got a mom. Everybody’s got a dad. And everybody’s got somebody that loves them somewhere, so, we’re going to treat them all the same and look for them as diligently and thorough as we possibly can.”

Wurtz insists that they did that.

Looking for anyone with information

In the wake of Thursday’s discovery, Shane Justice’s family has called off a community search at the park they had planned for September 12. However, until the deceased person’s identity is determined, officials urge the public to continue to keep an eye out for anyone fitting Justice’s description.

The medical examiner at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur will conduct an autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death. They’ll use dental records and DNA analysis to positively identify the body.

Lt. Wurtz asks anyone with information about this case or the search for Shane Justice to please contact Lt. Kogod at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office at 706-839-5000.