BREAKING NEWS: Body Discovered in Lavonia Home

The body of what authorities are saying is a homicide victim in Lavonia is now at the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy and positivie identification.

Monday afteroon, Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle said his office received a call just after lunch for a welfare check at a residence on Gilmer St.

“The caller said the individual was down on the ground and possibly had head injuries,” Carlisle said. “Upon arrival officers determined the situation was not a case of a welfare check, but a case of possible signs of a criminal offense that had occurred within the residence.”

Carlisle said once he believed foul play was suspected he contacted the GBI in Athens.

GBI Special Agent in Charge for the Athens office, Michael Ayers, says his entire team was on the scene by late afternoon and he says they expect to be there most of the night.

“At this point in time we have been on the scene about two hours,” Ayers said late Monday afternoon. “Our Crime Scene units are on the scene, we are talking to neighbors, and we are beginning an examination of the residence. We are working this as if foul play is involved, but we do believe this is a homicide.”

Ayers tells WLHR News he does not believe that the public is in any danger and he believes this to be an isolated incident.

“We also believe this does not represent a continued threat to the community,” Ayers explained. “However, this case is extremely important to the GBI. We expect this investigation to go throughout the day and the night. And we will continue to press this case until we receive a positive outcome.”

In addition to the Lavonia Police and the GBI, investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White, and the County Coroner are on the scene.

At this point, authorities are not releasing the name of the victim, pending notification of family members and a positive identification.

We will continue to follow this developing story and bring you more information as it becomes available.