Richmond County authorities are investigating two separate deaths after bodies were discovered in different parts of Augusta. Though both incidents are being treated with caution, officials say the cases are unrelated.
The first discovery occurred Sunday afternoon near the intersection of 5th and Taylor Streets. Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed a decomposed body was found outside and pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m. Sunday due to the condition of the remains. The body, believed to be male, appeared to have a possible head injury, prompting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Local residents say the smell of decay had been lingering in the area for days.
“Yeaaa Saturday it was smelling like death so bad,” one person posted on social media. Another added, “Man that body been there for a minute. It’s been stank ash over there for the past week.”
Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased, pending further investigation and next-of-kin notification.
In a separate incident on Monday, the Coroner’s Office responded to South View Cemetery on Nellieville Road, where a man was found dead in the back of an SUV. Details about how the body was discovered remain unclear, but officials have labeled the death as suspicious. An autopsy is scheduled, and the man’s identity will be released once it has been confirmed.
