The family of an Augusta man who has been missing for over a year is now searching the old Regency Mall, fueled by rumors that his body may have been dumped there after he was beaten to death.
Nicholas Crawford, 44, was reported missing on Aug. 13, 2023. His mother, Sharon Crawford, told authorities that Nicholas had left for Hephzibah to help a friend and hasn’t been heard from since.
Despite the circumstances, the family remains hopeful and has previously offered a $5,000 reward for information about his whereabouts. They have frequently contacted the sheriff’s office for updates and were informed—without further explanation—that the case has now been classified as a homicide, according to a family member, who wished to remain unnamed.
Over the past year, the family hired a private detective and even searched local areas with cadaver dogs, assisted by a military friend. They focused their efforts on Turkey Trail Drive in Hephzibah due to rumors that he may have been killed there. Some people responding to news articles on Facebook have contacted Crawford’s family and even suggested he was killed over a debt.
Recently, the family followed a lead suggesting that Crawford’s body was moved and dumped at the old Regency Mall. They hired a drone pilot over the weekend who captured unsettling video footage near the old Montgomery Ward store.
THE DRONE VIDEO:
The family plans to conduct a further search of the mysterious item and check for a possible sinkhole inside the abandoned mall.
“We have been doing a lot of footwork with this because Richmond County … they are not taking it seriously or they just don’t want to do the work,” said the family member.
When asked about the case status on Tuesday, a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office public information officer replied, “I have not received any updates.”
Crawford is described as a 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound Black male with black hair and brown eyes. He did not have any known mental health conditions.
Investigators urge anyone with information about Nicholas Crawford’s whereabouts to contact them immediately at 706-821-1080. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.
