Body found inside car in Cobb County identified

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County police believe they have identified the body found Friday morning inside a wrecked car that may have crashed months ago. Neighbors say the woods along Steinhauer Road have hidden wrecked cars before.

The Mazda was at the bottom of a ravine at the corner of Trickum and Steinhauer roads. The car was 20 feet below the road.

Officials said the body is badly decomposed, but believe the body is that of Charlene Baggette, 58, of Marietta. She was reported missing by family members on June 23.

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Police think Baggette drove over the guardrail and landed in the ravine.

Crews used a crane to pull the car out.

The Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office has assumed jurisdiction and is expected to confirm if the body found was Baggette.

"So I'm not surprised. I'm just surprised that it sat down there that long," neighbor Joel Stowe said.

Stowe lives next door to where police discovered the Mazda.

Stowe says he heard an early morning crash six months ago, and it took him a while to find the car.

"About a half hour later, I continued to search and I found the vehicle. It was upside down, about 40 yards into the woods. The driver was still in it, still alive," Stowe said.

Stowe believes there needs to be markers so drivers won't take the curve too fast.

Cox Media Group