A burned body was found early Saturday morning in an isolated area of Stone Mountain Park, Ga. According to officials, the body belongs to a young man, but due to the severe burns, additional forensic analysis is needed to confirm the identity.
The discovery came as a shock to many park visitors. David Farmer, who was at the park when he heard the news, expressed his disbelief. “It’s a little scary and it’s kind of somber. I’ve never seen anything like that. I’ve been here a lot never seen anything like that.”
Stone Mountain Park Police’s John Bankhead commented on the unusual nature of the incident. “This is a very weird situation, a very unique situation and I’m curious myself as to what might’ve happened.”
Dekalb County received a 911 call from a hiker who made the discovery shortly after 8:15 a.m. Saturday. Hours later the burn marks remained in the area formed by a rock that hangs over the mountain. According to Bankhead, it’s an area that’s not widely hiked. “I hike at out here a lot I didn’t even know it existed.”
It’s not yet clear what or how this happened. The Dekalb County Medical Examiner’s Office will do an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Dekalb Fire is conducting an arson investigation.
Mike Morris was another visitor at the park when the discovery was made. “It’s unfortunate and to be so close in proximity to where everyone’s kind of traversing and going back and forth. It’s unfortunate that it even happened to begin with but just to hear it it’s sad.”
