HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2's Liz Artz was at Sun Suites off of Jesse Jewell Parkway most of Saturday, where she saw investigators in and out of room 125 all night.
Police got a search warrant and they put a tarp over the railing to block anyone from seeing inside. There was nonstop activity as police tried to figure out exactly what went on in the motel room.
Todd Maxwell is a sales representative at Sports and Imports Auto, which is just 50 feet from the extended stay motel where the man's body was discovered Saturday morning.
“It’s actually quite scary to know that somebody is here who has this mindset to be able to something so gruesome,” Maxwell told Artz.
Maxwell says the body was discovered by the motel's maintenance man sometime after 11:30 a.m. He said the maintenance worker told him the body was dismembered. Police would not confirm that, saying they would not release any details specific to the case as to not hinder the investigation.
Channel 2 Action News was there as a dumpster in the motel's parking lot was loaded on a flatbed and hauled off with police following behind. Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said it will be processed in police custody. The GBI blocked room 125 from the public's view Saturday night as they thoroughly went through every inch of the room, gathering evidence and examining the victim's body.
“I have no idea what it could be about, it’s just gruesome. Something out of a horror movie. It’s wrong, it’s scary, to think people capable of doing that in this area,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said the maintenance man went into the room because the guest had not checked out. Police are trying to determine if the person who checked in is the same person whose body was found.
“He said it was the most horrifying thing he had seen yet," Maxwell said.
Police say they have not identified the body to notify next of kin and are still not sure of the victim's race.
An autopsy is expected Monday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating.
WSBTV
