Clayton County

Police identify woman found dead, dumped along metro Atlanta interstate

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police have positively identified a woman they say was killed and dumped along I-675.

Police said they were called out to the interstate near the Grant Road overpass at 10:41 a.m. Sunday morning after a driver noticed a body laying on the side of I-675 in Ellenwood.

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Clayton County investigators said Cormella Thomas, 30, was shot several times before being dumped near the interstate.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones found many people identifying the victim on social media before authorities made the official announcement. Video posted on her Facebook page showed Thomas celebrating her 1-year-old child, named Reign, which she had tattooed on her.

“I think it’s really sad and devastating. I don’t know how people can be so cruel,” said nearby resident Paulina Wilson.

Clayton County police initially put out a sketch of Thomas asking for help trying to identify her. Since then, authorities have notified Thomas’ next of kin of the “tragic news.”

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“The men and women of the Clayton County Police Department extend our deepest condolences Cormella’s family, friends, and loved ones,” the department said in a news release.

Authorities are still searching for more information in this case. Anyone with more information on this case is asked to contact police at 770-477-3747.

Wilson isn’t shocked this could be another case of deadly domestic violence.

“Women aren’t safe at all. You hear a lot of stories how women are not safe. Especially in Atlanta,” Wilson said.

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