CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. -- Police found the body of a missing Alabama teenager Tuesday afternoon in Carroll County.

Benjamin Stanford, the grandson of Alabama state Senator Jim Preuitt of Talladega, had been missing since Monday.

Police had been searching in the area since they found his SUV abandoned on I-20 in Villa Rica Monday afternoon. Preuitt said he did not have details of his grandson's death but said he was found about 1,000 feet from where his car was found along Interstate 20.

His body was found on the same day the FBI entered the case.

"Bless his heart. He was the apple of my eye. He was just so lovable. We can't believe it has happened," Preuitt told The Associated Press.

Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens, who is heading up the multi-agency investigation, said someone used Stanford's credit card to purchase gas at the Texaco station on Alabama 77 North, near the entrance to I-20, at approximately 9 a.m. on November 5th.

In Georgia, the Carroll County Sheriff's Department said Stanford's vehicle was found in the emergency lane of I-20 East. Its doors were unlocked and the passenger side door was left open. The keys were not in the vehicle.

They opened a tip line Tueday for any information regarding the investigation.

In addition Stanford's family was offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.

They had also set up a web site, www.benstanford.com, about the case.