Hiker Discovers Man's Burned Body on Georgia Mountain in 'Area Visitors Usually Don't Go to,' Police Say
A man hiking a mountain in Georgia found burned remains of a man during his trek
Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety spokesperson John Bankhead said the body was found in "an area that visitors usually don't go to"
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the death investigationA hiker came across the burned remains of a man on top of a mountain in Georgia this weekend.
On Saturday, May 31, around 8:18 a.m. local time, a park visitor hiking on Stone Mountain Park, located outside of Atlanta, called the Stone Mountain Park Police and told authorities he discovered a "burned" body under rocks and an overhang, Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety spokesperson John Bankhead told local outlets, including ABC affiliate WSB-TV, FOX affiliate WAGA-TV and Atlanta News First.
Responding officers, who "knew an area to look for," then found the body "burned severely," Bankhead told Atlanta News First.
He added, per the Associated Press, that the body appeared to be that of a White adult male who was likely in his 20s or 30s.
Speaking about where the body was found, Bankhead said, "It's in an area that visitors usually don't go to."
"You can see right behind me, it's under some trees. It's not in a popular area for visitors," he added.
As for the 911 caller, Bankhead said the man did not leave a name or number for authorities to contact him after he alerted police about the body.
"We are fortunate that the individual did spot the body. We'd like to talk to him if he would call park police," the spokesperson said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is leading the death investigation, while the body has been sent to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy, per multiple outlets.
When reached for information, a spokesperson for the GBI directed PEOPLE to the Stone Mountain Park Police, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday, June 1.
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Bankhead told WAGA-TV of the area where the body was found, "Somebody had piled up rocks in front of the overhang to make it very private."
Despite the situation, the "family-oriented park" itself is "very safe," Bankhead told Atlanta News First.
He called the discovery of the dead body "very rare" for the tourist destination, which is located roughly 15 miles from downtown Atlanta and features a carving of three Confederate leaders: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
"This is the first time, in my knowledge, that something like this has happened, finding a body on top of the mountain," he said. "We've found bodies [of people] who have jumped and committed suicide. But nothing like this. This is very unusual. Very rare. I don't know if this has ever occurred here."
"As more comes forward, I think we'll find out that it's a very odd situation. Very odd situation," Bankhead continued.
The park spokesperson also told WSB-TV that while operations are "being carried on as usual right now," things "may change depending on the situation.'
David Farmer, a college student who has hiked the mountain multiple times, told WAGA that he also had "never seen anything like that" in the area.
"I've been here a lot and never seen anything like that," Farmer said. "It's a little scary, and it's kind of somber."
Fellow park visitor Emalyn Delgado added that she visits the area to "have fun and be at the park," telling WSB-TV that the discovery is "crazy."
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