Sketch released of woman whose remains were found in suitcase on side of I-75

BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has now put a face on a suitcase full of bones found last year in Butts County.

A forensic artist has created a sketch of what an unidentified woman might have looked like.

A forensic anthropologist determined the bones were those of an African American female but the age range is wide. Investigators say she could have been anywhere from 19 to 45 years old. She had a broken ankle at some time in her life, and a pronounced gap between her two front teeth.

So far, investigators have not determined the cause of death.

They aim to find out who she was and they hope artist Kelly Lawson's sketch will jog some memories. Lawson says there are some things about a person's face that can make them easy to recognize.

"I made a point in the drawing to put her hand up close to her mouth.  To draw a viewer's attention.  Because that was her most unique feature."

Lawson told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen her drawing isn't meant to be a dead ringer.

"She could be smaller, thinner, thicker. Her hair is obviously going to be different. I don't know if she had her hair pulled up," she said.

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Lawson created the sketch after examining a skull.

GBI says the unidentified victim could be from anywhere.

"Because of the location along I-75, which is a heavily traveled interstate, this person could be from anywhere along the east coast or across the country," said Bahan Rich with the GBI.

GBI has not called this case a homicide. So far, investigators have not released a suspected cause of death.

Lawson hopes the family or friends of this woman may see her in this drawing.

"They're the ones who are still looking and wondering. So any person who comes up that's even close, they're gonna call in and make a tip," Lawson said.

Cox Media Group