Death investigation continues after body found on MLK Jr. Blvd. in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A death investigation in the East Wynnton neighborhood widens after a body was found in the area.

“I was genuinely shocked,” said neighborhood resident Destiny Gould.

Gould says her neighborhood is generally peaceful and quiet. However, last night was different as sirens, blue lights and several deputies descended into her neighborhood.

“I came out, and the crime scene tape was up and that’s when I started talking to my neighbors. And we quickly found out there was a body across the street,” said Gould.

According to Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman, 911 dispatch received a call, and they later found a body in an open field along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Countryman released a statement saying,

Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Ben Saxon says they were not able to identify the body because of its condition and added that he thought the body may have been in the open for about five to six days.

Ironically, the man who lives in the house across the street from where the body was found had been reported missing on May 6 – five days ago. Crime scene tape surrounded the home, and deputies could be seen in and outside the house for much of the day.

Machinery was brought out the night of the discovery to come cement barricades to make room for law enforcement to gain access to the area where the body was found.

“I still don’t know if it’s the neighbor, honestly,” said Gould. “I just know that there’s a body, and we didn’t see any, like, even with them moving the stuff around... We didn’t see, didn’t physically see, a body either. So I still don’t know who it is.”

As neighbors wait for answers, they say they hope foul play is not a factor in the death.

“I really hope that it’s something explainable. I’m really hoping.”

A neighbor, who didn’t want to go on camera, said the deputies were in the area earlier in the day on Wednesday, May 10, performing a wellness check in the area.

As we gain more information, we will keep you updated. Stay with News Leader 9.

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