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Family seeks clues in mysterious death

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Newton County family wants answers about how a loved one died.

Investigators found a body in a wooded area near the Yellow River in Porterdale on Aug. 13. This week they identified the body as Harold Womack, 40, of Porterdale.

Womack's sister, Stacey Marks, told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri that she last spoke to her brother on July 25. She said she was worried because she had not heard from him, but she did not think he was missing because he often traveled for construction jobs. She said the family was stunned when investigators showed up Monday to tell them that her brother was dead.

"I feel like something happened to him. In the back of my head, it keeps saying, 'Something happened to him. Somebody did something,'" Marks said.

Lt. Tyrone Oliver with the Newton County Sheriff's Office said the agency is treating the case as a death investigation with suspicious causes. Because of decomposition, officials have been unable to determine how Womack died.

"He was sent to the GBI crime lab and right now there wasn't any obvious signs of trauma to him," Oliver said.

Marks said her brother was found without his wallet, which he always carried.

Sandra Womack was in tears as she asked for anyone with information about her son's death to come forward.

"Please, if they know anything, let Newton County investigators know, or let me know. That's all I beg," Womack said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Newton County Sheriff's Office at 678-625-5077.