Garland Sims Warren disappearance: 2 arrested as search continues for missing Laurens County man
Garland Sims Warren (Laurens County Sheriff's Office)
SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. – The search for Garland Sims Warren intensified after his truck was found nearly 100 miles away and two people were arrested.
Warren has been missing in Laurens County since June 10th. Authorities are hoping someone out there has the missing piece to this case.
Garland Sims Warren is reported missing
Warren, 82, was reported missing by his family in Laurens County earlier this month. He was last seen driving a black 2003 Toyota Tundra. It was the same pickup truck found about 100 miles away in Spalding County.
A Mattie's Call, Georgia's emergency missing person alert for disabled or elderly people, was issued for him.
(Laurens County Sheriff's Office)
The search focused on the Roberta area in Laurens County.
He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs about 170 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes.
Garland Sims Warren's truck found in Spalding County
Last Friday, a flock camera in Spalding County gave a positive ping to Warren's missing truck. Officers swarmed the area and eventually found the truck parked behind the Dollar General store on Jackson Road.
Garland Sims Warren (Laurens County Sheriff's Office)
A thorough search of the area using multiple law enforcement and rescue agencies, including the use of helicopters, K-9 units and the specialized land, air and water search unit, failed to locate Warren.
“We are actively working on this case, still gathering evidence, following up on leads, communicating with Sheriff Dean and his agency and conducting interviews. My investigators are working with Sheriff Dean and his investigators. Everyone has worked almost non-stop since then.” The herd alarm. My Uniform Patrol Deputies even searched and worked on foot day and night to assist with criminal investigations,” said Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix.
Garland Sims Warren's pickup (Laurens County Sheriff's Office)
Meanwhile, investigators were combing through video footage of the area and canvassing the neighborhood for possible witnesses. It eventually led them to 62-year-old Robert Earnest Peppers and 56-year-old Kelly Gail Osborn.
According to investigators, Osborn admitted to following Peppers, who was driving Warren's pickup truck. They parked the vehicle at the store and left the scene. The two told investigators they pulled Warren's truck out of a ditch. Several pieces of mail addressed to Warren were found at the location.
An extensive search was also carried out in this area, but only the post office was found. A second search warrant was executed at the property, leading investigators to items now known to have come from Warren's truck.
Peppers and Osborn were booked into the Spalding County Jail. Both have been charged with theft by receiving stolen property but continue to be questioned by investigators.
Garland Sims Warren's pickup spotted (Laurens County Sheriff's Office)
In a statement released Monday, Sheriff Dix wrote:
“We have had questions about civilians and civilian groups coming to Spalding County to look for Mr. Warren and we have received some reports of that. This has resulted in deputies and investigators being sent on a few wild goose chases by people. “I mean well, but we don't have the facts to use to conduct this investigation. This just diverts our attention from locating Mr. Warren and slows things down because we have to deal with them at the same time as we search an area, we may have to do so based on new information we learn as the investigation progresses. return there and develop new leads by having people tramp through this area on foot, in ATVs, with dogs, horses and search areas. Your own help will not help, it may actually hinder our investigation and collection of relevant evidence. When we need outside help, we have no problem reaching out to citizens and asking for help, as we did when the tornadoes came through Spalding County. The people of Spalding County have no problem helping out, getting involved to work hard and help out when asked. From now on, please wait and let us do our work without disturbing you or worrying about contamination.”
“I have said it many times: When an investigation is conducted, we simply cannot blurt out everything we know or provide a minute-by-minute update. Cases often develop slowly, and sometimes information pours in.” Below The bottom line is that we must find Mr. Warren, protect the integrity of the search and investigation, and will release information when and how we can, just as we are now.”
Anyone with information, video footage or other leads on Warren's disappearance is asked to contact Lt. To call Jeff Smith or Sgt. AJ Hammond at the Spalding County Sheriff's Office at 770-467-4282, the Laurens County Sheriff's Office at 478-272-1522 or the Spalding County 911 Center at 770-229-9911
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