FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Missing Person(s) Cases Update
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
The Sheriff’s Office routinely investigates reports of missing persons. Fortunately, most such cases are resolved rapidly and successfully with the missing person located safely. As of today (February 6), the Sheriff’s Office has four (4) open ‘missing person’ investigations, wherein the person has not been located. For example, the Sheriff’s Office received 83 reports/calls for service regarding missing person cases in 2019. 82 of these reports were cleared. Many times, the person is located before first responders even arrive. The four (open) cases date from 1993 to 2019. Our most recent case sadly ended with the discovery of a missing person’s body. In addition to an open 1993 case (Roy A. Guyton), there is one from 2008 (Stephanie R. Davis), one from 2016 (Michelle Lynn Gibson), and one from 2019 (Rebekah S. Adler). None of these cases are connected, and there is no reason to believe that any of these persons even knew one another. There is no evidence of foul play in these cases. None of these persons were reported missing from a truck stop. These cases are still active, and the Sheriff’s Office is, like all other local agencies, audited annually by the GBI to ensure that missing person cases remain open.
It is our understanding that Keeslyn Noell Roberts, age 20, 4871 Old Federal Road or 171 Old Grade Road, Chatworth, Georgia was reported missing to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office on January 20, 2020. On January 18, (Gordon County) deputies had responded to a 911 call at ” Flying ‘J‘ ” Truck Stop in Resaca concerning a suspicious (female) person. Upon arrival, the deputies learned that the suspicious female had fled the scene, but they did discover a bag containing Ms. Roberts’ identification in a restricted (employee only) area of the business. On January 20, Ms. Roberts’ automobile was found at the truck stop in Resaca by a family member. However, the (Gordon County) Sheriff’s Office was not made aware of this information until January 29. The Gordon County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office in the furtherance of Ms. Roberts’ case. Detectives have learned that there is an outstanding warrant for Ms. Roberts’ arrest on file with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office for the offense of Violation of Probation which was issued on January 17, 2020 from Whitfield County Superior Court. Investigating officers from both jurisdictions are working to locate Ms. Roberts safely.
There is no evidence at this time of any connection between Ms. Roberts, and Caleb Nathaniel Smith, age 21, who was reported missing at “Flying ‘J’ “ on January 16 and whose body was found near Sugar Valley on February 2 (2020). There is no evidence that these people are/were acquainted, or that these cases are connected. The investigations into these matters are ongoing, and any new pertinent information will be released to the public in a timely fashion. If anyone has any information regarding any of these cases, please contact the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office at 706-629-1244.