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Published Thursday, January 05, 2012 in Local

Coweta Cold Cases: Body found in April homicide victim

By John Winters

The Newnan Times-Herald

Authorities have identified the human remains that were found in the woods wrapped in a trash bag in western Coweta County in April 2011, and are treating the case as a homicide.

In a similar situation, Coweta authorities also believe they have identified other human remains found in July off Highway 34 East, but are awaiting final DNA and autopsy tests. That case is not considered a homicide at this time.

The body discovered in April 2011 was identified as Ann Margaret Berry, also known as Ann Lee, according to Major Jimmy Yarbrough with the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.

A missing person report was filed July 31, 1991, on Berry, who lived at 818 Welcome-to-Arnco Road at the time.

It was filed by Berry's sister, Sheila Storey, the major said. Berry was 29 at the time of her disappearance.

Berry's remains were found in the 900 block of Welcome-to-Arnco Road.

"We are still looking for a cause and manner of death," Yarbrough said.

"But we are definitely treating this as a homicide."

A 14-year-old found the remains while digging a fire pit about 30 yards beyond the wood line behind the family residence.

A human skull and other remains were found in a shallow grave, wrapped in a trash bag.

Berry was identified through DNA samples from family members, Yarbrough said.

In the second incident, a human skull was found by a surveyor in July 2011.

The skull was in the woods across from Wynn's Pond Road, behind Trinity Fellowship Church. Investigators later found other skeletal bones, a backpack with a few items and other clothing.

The body, that of an adult male, is believed to have been there for about five to six years.

Yarbrough said authorities are awaiting final DNA and autopsy results but do not believe that case is a homicide at this point.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Maj. Yarbrough or Investigator John Lewis at the Sheriff's Office - 770-253-1502.