Missing man found dead

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Monday, March 26. 2012

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A missing Barrow County man that was the focus of a large search last week was found dead in a creek bed on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.

James Gunter Sr., 51, was last seen on Monday, March 19, as he walked along Freeman Johnson Road. Family members called the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office on March 20 to report him as missing.
The sheriff’s office searched the area for three days with no luck of finding Gunter, according to a press release. The agency also conducted roadside checks to ask motorists about Gunter, searched the area where he was last seen and used police dogs to look for him.

Investigators estimated that more than 80 people — including law enforcement officers, neighbors and family members — searched for Gunter. His body was found by a family member in a creek bed near Freeman Johnson Road and Ga. Hwy. 211, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office said there were no immediate signs of foul play on the scene. Gunter’s body was taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab, where and autopsy was performed on Monday.
Preliminary results from the autopsy revealed no signs of foul play. The investigation is ongoing, but investigators seek to put the pieces of the puzzle regarding Gunter’s disappearance and death together.

Any person with information they feel is relevant in the case should contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office at 770-307-3080, ext. 3094. More information will be released when it becomes available, according to the agency.

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#1 L Rosie on 03/26/12 at 08:36 PM [Reply]

This is very sad and disturbing. We have never had any trouble living on Freeman Johnson Road for more than 30 years now.

I have questions;
Did Mr. Gunter go for walks frequently?
Was his family home at the time he left for this walk?
Did he have any communication with anyone prior to leaving his home?
What was his health status?
Did anything traumatic happen to him recently?

I've spent many, many days and early evenings taking my parents dog for a walk and I'm concerned for their safety as well as all who live here.

#2 Anonymous on 03/26/12 at 08:42 PM [Reply]

Well Barrow County is crime capital USA

#3 How is this disturbing on 03/27/12 at 01:36 PM [Reply]

It says no sign of foul play...

#3.1 L Rosie on 03/27/12 at 07:35 PM [Reply]

You are absolutely right. But until that is confirmed yes, I'm a bit uneasy. I can't imagine what his family is going through, but I hope they find a peaceful closure to their loss.

#4 Anonymous on 03/27/12 at 09:01 PM [Reply]

Barrow County never put much effort into finding this guy. He was just a working man that lived in a mobile home. If he had been someones golfing buddy or lived in North Woods or Saint Ives. It would have been a different story. I bet the Chamber of Commerce would have been organizing search parties. The sky would have been full of helicopters and they would have brought out the National Guard. Probably would have turned the First Methodist church into their head quarters. And the Big Hats Ladies Club would be cooking for everyone. But none of that happened for this poor guy. In fact his family found him in a area the county had already searched.

#4.1 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 12:16 AM [Reply]

Boy what a hater....Barrow County Sheriff does not contol any of the organizations you mentioned. How is the Sheriff supposed to make these people do what you want? If they want to come out to help and the Sheriff allows it, then they can but he cant make them. Man you just love to come up with crap dont you?

#5 FYI on 03/27/12 at 09:45 PM [Reply]

Where you out there with law enforcement? Please don't assume Barrow County didn't "put much effort" into this investigation. I can PROMISE that they put as many resources into this investigation as possible under circumstances you know NOTHING about. You only see what's in the paper or hear around town. I'm in local law enforcement and need to advise you to do your homework. Also, I don't care where you live, who you know or how much money you have, we treat every investigation with the same priority and professionalism each and EVERYTIME we are called to a scene.

#5.1 Anonymous on 03/27/12 at 10:55 PM [Reply]

That's what I would be saying too if I worked for the SO.

#5.2 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 01:45 AM [Reply]

Yeah, I believe that like I believe that Dick Cheney waited his turn for a heart.

#5.3 Really on 03/29/12 at 12:32 AM [Reply]

Are you saying if I am dirt poor,homeless, living in a appliance box, and have been arrested numerous times for child offenses, theft, domestic violence, assault on officers, drug use,etc and report someone broke in my box and stole my last can of soup you would give my report of a crime the same priority as if the Sheriff had a break-in and also the only thing missing was a can of soup out of his well stocked pantry in his nice house?
Maybe the calls come in at the same time. Closest officer is one minute from me, and 10 minutes from the Sheriff's.
Are you sure I would get same priority and professionalism?
"we treat every investigation with the same priority and professionalism each and EVERYTIME we are called to a scene".

#6 Gail H. on 03/27/12 at 10:38 PM [Reply]

It was a such an embarrassment to this county for all to see when TV 5 News interviewed the female deputy. So much Ebonics talk. We kept having to back it up and listen over and over to understand what she said.

#6.1 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 01:48 AM [Reply]

I was passed out in da flo right nex to my maw
When I heered such a fuss
It mus be de law!

#6.2 The Truth on 04/09/12 at 09:25 AM [Reply]

Gail you are just racist, just because a Black woman spoke you are jealous. If the spokes person was white you would have never made this comment. If you could have done a better job, you would have been the spokes person.

#6.2.1 Anonymous on 04/09/12 at 11:18 AM [Reply]

Could you define the term "racist"? I don't think you can. As it is used nowadays, however, it applies whenever any black person is offended by anything any white person says.

#6.3 Public Information Officer Duties on 04/09/12 at 11:51 AM [Reply]

I did Not see the TV interview, I do Not know what you are discussing, BUT I will say this: If you are going to be the PIO (Public Information Officer) the "Spokeperson for the Department", part of your QUALIFICATIONS should be to Speak Clearly, Intelligently and Professionally to Media Contacts **Or** the Department will APPEAR Unprofessional and reflect poorly. So If this took place, It needs to be Corrected, maybe that Deputy is a good officer but maybe that is NOT the role for her.

#7 Guess you weren't on SR 211 last week on 03/28/12 at 10:27 AM [Reply]

Barrow County did put in A LOT of effort in finding this man. I was stuck on 211 on my home from work last week because of BC police doing a checkpoint on it. It normally takes me 5 mins to get home from 85 but on that day; it took me 30 mins. Actually, I told my wife the exact opposite of what has been posted before--this guy must be pretty important for all the traffic!!!!

#8 Gail H. the racist? on 03/28/12 at 12:31 PM [Reply]

Gail H. - I just watched the clip you are referring to. Ebonics?? Really?? How could you not understand what she said? I heard everything she said and understood perfectly.
YOU are the embarrassment to Barrow County. You and others like you. Tsk, tsk.

#8.1 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 12:51 PM [Reply]

Maybe she just couldnt understand it because the deputy was NOT talking in ebonics...

#8.2 Anonymous on 03/28/12 at 04:43 PM [Reply]

I watched it also. I think we could have understood her better if a little rapping music was added to the background.

#9 L Rosie on 03/28/12 at 07:18 PM [Reply]

PEOPLE!

#10 Anonymous on 04/06/12 at 11:47 AM [Reply]

I am the person who found James(Jimmy)Gunter dead on Saturday morning March 24th.I never stopped searching.As for the person who wonders if it is still safe to live on freeman Johnson Rd.I think it is i have lived here most of my life.As for the rest of you i do not have the answers.I guess some of our questions will never be answered.So all we can do now is let jimmy rest in peace.

#11 Anonymous on 04/06/12 at 09:54 PM [Reply]

i am a family member of james(jimmy). we searched non stop and it was mostly friends and family who searched we believed he died march 20 and we havent gotten any news from the GBI crime lab and it is safe to live here see in my opinion the cops could have looked a little harder and actually really try to find him. but as u see we found him not the cops..i am
his daughter

#11.1 Anonymous on 04/06/12 at 10:39 PM [Reply]

I am very sorry for your loss. It has already been pointed out in some of the above reply's that the Sheriff Department never put much effort into the search. Jimmy wasn't anyone's golf buddy. And he didn't live in a prominent subdivision. The citizens of this county including myself should hang our heads in shame for not coming out to help. The sheriff dept spent more time and man power in the movie being filmed up the road from you. Jud went out to shake Justin Timberlakes hand and talk a little golf with him. Did he come down and do any searching for your dad.

#11.1.1 Really??? on 04/09/12 at 01:48 PM [Reply]

Actually I was stopped in the road check they had and the Sheriff himself handed me a flier and asked me if I had seen anything unusual the day this man went missing. I also live in the area and saw the Sherriff walking and looking as well in the wooded area. I hope if I go missing they do this much for me to find me. How many of you can remeber when a road check was done around here for a missing person around the time he went missing So your assumption that Judd did nothing is totally wrong. Why would you even try to stir things up when this family is grieving over their loss.

#11.2 LRosie on 04/12/12 at 02:21 PM [Reply]

Hello Ms. Gunter,
I am so, so very, very sorry for your loss and more sorry that you were the one who had to find your Dad. There are no words or way I could know what you went through at that moment. I have no opinions about what the law enforcement did or didn't do to help your family through this horrific tragedy. Please know that my prayers have been with you since my parents informed me that Mr. Gunter went missing.
They have lived in your community since it was built. The first tragedy was when the owner of the lake drowned and that was many, many years ago. My father moved there because of the peace and quiet that came with living there. After a lifetime of living in the city in the northeast we have always enjoyed living in this community. I was the first to post on this and never did I expect to hear any of the garbage that followed. My only concern was to find out the truth about what happened. I apologize to you personally about all the negativity that got thrown on top of the real original question. Maybe I stated it wrong, maybe it got interpreted wrong. But please do accept my heartfelt apology. I never intended or thought that it would have gotten to this. I am very sorry for your loss.

#12 tianwando on 04/20/12 at 03:30 AM [Reply]

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