Elbert County Manhunt Becomes Death Investigation, Two in Custody

Authorities in Elbert County are remaining tight-lipped regarding the identities of a body found Sunday in the trunk of a burned vehicle and the two suspects in custody in connection with that case.

Elbert County Sheriff Melvin Andrews tells sister station WSGC in Elberton authorities found the body inside the trunk of one of the cars that was set on fire Sunday.

Andrews said on Sunday the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, 9-1-1 received a call just after 8:00am in reference to two vehicles that were a blaze off of Highway 368 near the Georgia – South Carolina line in the Montvideo Community.

When law enforcement officers arrived, a perimeter was set up and the search for the man they believed was responsible was launched.

A motorist and witness told authorities they saw the two vehicles on fire and stopped to offer help, but the suspects pointed a gun at them and told them to leave.

About 2p Sunday afternoon, authorities received information about a possible sighting of a male and female suspect.  At about 4p, a body was discovered in the trunk of one the cars that had been torched and the GBI was called in to assist, as well the Anderson County Sheriff’s office.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released.

The suspects were located just before 8:30pm Sunday less than a quarter of mile from where the vehicles were set on fire near the Edgefield subdivision said Andrews.

Their names have also not yet been released.

However, Larry Meyers, a resident who lives near where the vehicles were discovered said Monday the man they arrested is his nephew.

While Meyers did give WLHR News the name of his nephew, WLHR News is not releasing that name until Sheriff Andrews releases the names of all suspects involved and the victim.

Meyers had claimed the man authorities thought they were searching for Sunday was not the man they actually arrested. On Monday, Andrews did confirmed that was true, but still would not release any names.

Andrews said he is waiting for agents with the GBI and Anderson County authorities to finish their interviews with the suspects before releasing any more information.