Two mysteries that fell into the laps of local law enforcement in 2018 will apparently carry over into the new year labelled ‘˜unsolved’. The first involves human remains found on land along the MLK Bypass in Barnesville Oct. 9 by a potential buyer who was walking the property. The remains – mostly bones, including a skull – were found not far off the bypass in the woods on the east side of the roadway and south of the Tobesofkee Creek bridge. No clothing, belongings or personal effects that could help in identifying remains were located at the scene. A GBI crime scene investigator collected the bones which were taken to the state crime lab for identification. Despite having a possible target family and enough teeth to possibly determine an identity using dental records, none has been forthcoming from the lab, according to coroner Jim Smith. Sheriff Brad White concurred. ‘There is no news. That is something we will be checking on early in 2019,’ the sheriff said. The second mystery is the whereabouts of tuberculosis patient Joe Lewis Watkins, 53. Judge Bill Fears ordered Watkins confined at an emergency commitment hearing Nov. 7. Watkins did not attend the hearing and is the subject of an ongoing lookout. Watkins vanished about Oct. 15. The confinement was ordered to make sure Watkins is not infectious and does not develop a drug-resistant form of TB. Watkins had missed 10 does of medication ordered by public health officials at the time he vanished. If you have any information that could help in solving these cases, call 770-358-5159.
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