Allatoona Death Mystery: Victim's Identity Remains Unknown

CARTERSVILLE, GA — The Bartow County Sheriff's Office continues to seek clues and information that could help detectives identify the man whose body was found in Allatoona Lake two months ago. Georgia DNR game wardens recovered the body around 5:40 p.m. Sept. 1 from the lake near the Bethany Bridge area of Red Top Mountain Road.

Since releasing a composite sketch of the victim and providing details on what he was wearing at the time of his death, BCSO investigators have received numerous tips about the case through phone calls, messages and email, said Sgt. Jonathan Rogers.

The victim is a white male between 55 and 65 years old. He is about 5'10'' tall and weighs 230 pounds. At the time of his recovery, the man was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, black swimming flippers and a backpack filled with sand and rocks. He also had a rope with a small anchor tied around his waist and ankle weights strapped to his feet. Sgt. Rogers said the male also suffered a gunshot wound to his right temple.

"We are working with reported missing persons cases investigators to attempt to identify the man, but so far (we've had) no luck," the sergeant added.

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At this point, detectives have not been able to determine the cause of death and how long he was in the water before he was discovered, Rogers previously told Patch. He did say homicide has not been ruled out of the equation.

The GBI Medical Examiner performed the autopsy on Sept. 4, and fingerprint comparisons and facial recognition software have not led to information about his identity. A sketch of what the man may have looked like before his death has been released.

"We hope to have people continue to send us any information that they might have," Sgt. Rogers said.

Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to contact the Bartow County Sheriff's Office tip line at 770-387-5100 or email tipline@bartow.org.

Image via Bartow County Sheriff's Office