Newton Citizen

Photo by Howard Reed

COVINGTON -- The skeletal remains that were found in a wooded area off Crowell Road in mid-May have been identified as Delbert Cecil Wimberly of Lawrenceville.

According to Newton County Coroner Tommy Davis, Wimberly was reported missing by Loganville authorities in the spring of 2009.

"A presumptive ID has been made. Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff's Office and the county Coroner's Office presented skeletal remains and the circumstances associated with the person investigators believed it to be to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab," Davis said, adding that the evidence revealed the remains were that of Wimberly.

Davis said the man's family last had contact with him in early 2009 and learned that at that time he was in the Covington area. His last known address was 180 Culver St., Lawrenceville, but it is believed he was camping in the wooded area not far from the McDonald's restaurant on Crowell Road during the last month's of his life.

No foul play is suspected in Wimberly's death.

"I don't think any harm came to him. I think he died of natural causes," Davis said, adding that he estimated the body had been where it was found a year or longer.

"Where he was found a number of personal items were found around his remains," Davis said. "It looked like he had been living in the woods for sometime."

Wimberly would now be 53 and Davis said he had spoken with his son who plans to come to Covington this week to claim his father's remains.

The body was found by a volunteer with Civil War Research -- The Atlanta Campaign who was doing a survey in Newton County.