Latest news with #StoneMountain
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Hiker makes grisly discovery at Georgia's Stone Mountain Park
The badly burned body of a young man was found by a hiker at the popular Georgia's Stone Mountain State Park — east of Atlanta in Georgia — on Saturday morning local time. Officials made the tragic determination after his parents found a note detailing his plans to end his life at the park, AP reported. Police identified the dead man only as a white male in his late 20s. They found his driver's license at the scene. A hiker discovered the body and anonymously called emergency to report it around 8.18am local time, officials said. His body was found in a rock crevice off the beaten path from the park's popular walking trail, about 91 metres from a tower for its Summit Skyride cable car, which brings visitors the 250 metres up to the top of Stone Mountain outside of Atlanta. He left his vehicle parked in the area, reports said. Stone Mountain Park is described as the 'largest high relief sculpture in the world,' depicting massive carvings of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson. The first sculpture was completed in 1924 and the last in 1972. The park's portrayal of the famous Confederates has had its share of controversy over the years, with it the site of protests both for and against it. Earlier this year, a madman with a gun started firing off shots in the park. The man, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, sparked a manhunt inside the site after hikers reported hearing gunfire. As a park officer located and approached the suspect, the man reportedly asked if he was going to shoot him. When the cop responded no, the gunman put the weapon to his head and fatally shot himself. No other park visitors or police were injured in the incident.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Authorities determine the cause of death of a man whose burned body was found on Stone Mountain
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — The man who whose burned body was found near the top of Stone Mountain outside Atlanta died by suicide, authorities said Sunday. The body was found near the top of the mountain Saturday morning after a hiker who discovered it called 911, Stone Mountain Park Police spokesperson John Bankhead said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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." Read the original article on People
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Authorities determine the cause of death of a man whose burned body was found on Stone Mountain
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The man who whose burned body was found near the top of Stone Mountain outside Atlanta died by suicide, authorities said Sunday. The body was found near the top of the mountain Saturday morning after a hiker who discovered it called 911, Stone Mountain Park Police spokesperson John Bankhead said. Police determined the man died by suicide after his parents found a note with details about how and where he planned to kill himself. Police also obtained his driver's license and determined he was a white male in his late 20s. The body was taken to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office and his death is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Stone Mountain is outside Atlanta and features a giant carving of Confederate leaders Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson on its northern face. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man found dead, burned on Stone Mountain determined to die in suicide
On Saturday morning, Stone Mountain Park Police responded to reports of a burned body found at the top of the mountain near the Sky Lyft. On Sunday, Park Police said a preliminary determination found the death was a suicide. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in Saturday to assist with the investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police at the time told Channel 2 Action News they were only able to determine the body found was a dead man. In a statement shared Sunday, police said the driver's license of the deceased, a man in his 20s, was found at the scene. TRENDING STORIES: Arrest made in deadly shooting at St. Vincent de Paul charity GBI investigating deadly shooting involving officer in southwest Atlanta Minors injured in shooting at Gwinnett County park Park Police used the information to find his family, who gave investigators a note detailing a suicide plan, including the method and location. Police said it was consistent with the death scene at Stone Mountain. Park Police said they would not be releasing the name of the dead man due to the sensitivity and the possible impact about reporting suicides. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
