Body found in Cedar Creek identified as Locust Grove business owner

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  • Jones and Putnam authorities walk back to their vehicles after recovering a body on Cedar Creek Sunday afternoon. LYNN HOBBS/Staff
    Jones and Putnam authorities walk back to their vehicles after recovering a body on Cedar Creek Sunday afternoon. LYNN HOBBS/Staff
Body

A Locust Grove woman was reported missing in the wee hours of the morning Sunday. About 10 hours later, her body was discovered by a fisherman in Cedar Creek at the Jones-Putnam county line.

The angler called the non-emergency number of Jones County Sheriff’s Office and reported what he saw. The responding Jones authorities, in turn, called Putnam County Sheriff’s Office when they noticed the deceased was on the Putnam County side of the creek, which flows along the county line.

As PCSO deputies Jim Barbee and Paul Bernichon were working the scene along with Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Bernichon was notified that Morgan County had called to report a BOLO out of Locust Grove regarding a possible kidnapping. It didn’t take long for all involved to figure out the kidnap victim and body in the creek were one and the same.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills identified the victim as Erica M. Atkins, 40, of Locust Grove. Authorities have not yet said how Atkins met her death. The Putnam County Coroner’s office was expected to release the body to the Henry County Coroner’s office. Locust Grove Police Chief Derrick Austin said it was early in the investigation, but he believed the victim may have been killed at her residence. However, he said an autopsy would be performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s medical examiner. The autopsy is expected to determine the cause and manner of the victim’s death.

Chief Austin said they already have a suspect in custody. Romero Johnson, 38, of Norman, Oklahoma, is being held in the Henry County Jail in McDonough, according to LGPD Lt. Brandon Morris.  Johnson is facing charges of kidnapping and murder. Johnson and Atkins were friends and coworkers, Austin said, noting that Atkins was the owner of Birdsong Books in Locust Grove. Austin said FLOCK cameras revealed that Johnson drove the body through Jasper and Morgan counties before discarding it in Cedar Creek on U.S. Hwy. 129.

The chief said Atkins is the mother of a 10-year-old son and some older children, and she was active in the community with her bookstore.

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