By Eloria Newell James, community@leadercall.com
WAYNE COUNTY – State and local officials have now released additional information concerning the investigation into a discovery of skeletal remains found in Wayne County.
Officials Thursday said the remains have been linked to a Waynesboro Police Department’s missing persons case.
Officials said evidence found in the discovery of skeletal remains in a wooded area of the rural county have been identified as a Waynesboro man reported missing by his mother in July.
Wayne County Coroner David Pugh said Thursday that DNA specialist results were back and the remains had been identified as those of Kenny Gandy of Waynesboro.
Officials said the autopsy confirmed that the person did not die of natural causes.
Wayne County Deputy Coroner Mike Williams said the cause of death, according to the autopsy report, was “one gunshot wound to the head.”
On Nov. 5th, 2009, officials with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and the Wayne County Coroner’s Office were reportedly called to a wooded area concerning the discovery.
Officials said the discovery was made by some hunters in a wooded area in the Pleasant Grove Community off of Highway 45 North going toward Shubuta in Clarke County.
In August, the Waynesboro Police Department announced that it was looking into the disappearance of a 23-year-old Waynesboro man who reportedly went missing in late July after being dropped off at a location not far from his Turner Street home.
Kenny Gandy reportedly disappeared on Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
According to officials’ report, the missing man’s mother, Jessie Gandy, called the Waynesboro Police Department two days later to report that Gandy had not been home. According to officials, he had not been heard from since then.
In a press release, Waynesboro Police Department officials said the investigations had taken the WPD in several different directions, and all leads were being followed.
The FBI was also contacted regarding the disappearance of Gandy.
According to a WPD official, “Gandy had been riding in the community with area resident Jermal Taylor, who reportedly dropped him off at a Turner Street apartment complex locally known as ‘the high rise.’ That was the last reported sighting of Gandy by anyone. He has not tried to make any contact with his family or anyone else that WPD is aware of at this time. ... Indications that Gandy might have been in the area of the W.C. Pitts gravel pit off Highway 184 and in the heavily wooded area behind the Wal-Mart Super Center, all turned up to be nothing.”
Pugh said the coroner’s office is continuing to work with local law enforcement agencies concerning the case.
The incident is continuing to be investigated by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. However, due to the holidays, no one was available to comment or give any other information concerning the case at press time.
Wayne County Investigator Kevin Stevens said earlier that the Sheriff’s Department had contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, which is working with local officials on this case.
Anyone that may have information related to this incident is asked to call the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department at (601) 735-3801, the Waynesboro Police at (601) 735-3192 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 735-LEAD (5323).
People can also submit information online by going to the Sheriff’s Department Website at www.waynecoso.org and using the site’s “Submit a Tip” form.
