The body of a Milledgeville man who was reported missing earlier this week was discovered Thursday afternoon in a wooded area behind a home on the 600 block of Brown’s Crossing Road in Baldwin County.
Earlier in the day, a suspect was pulled over by a Macon-Bibb County deputy who was driving the missing man’s car, according to Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee.
The man was arrested on an outstanding warrant for violating probation and was later returned to Baldwin County for questioning in connection with the missing man’s disappearance.
Authorities are now investigating the case as a homicide.
Four authorities work together to find out what happened and what was behind the murder. These agencies include the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Milledgeville Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 6 Office in Milledgeville, and the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office.
The body of Brandon Harris was discovered between 2 and 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Detective Maj. Brad King of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
“The victim’s body was found in the woods behind the house,” King told The Union-Recorder.
Harris is believed to have been stabbed.
“Without a doubt, this is a murder case,” King said.
The victim’s body was removed from the spot where it was discovered by Baldwin County Assistant Medical Examiner Foster Hurt. It was scheduled to be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy on Friday. The autopsy will clarify the cause and manner of death.
King said detectives with the Milledgeville Police Department were handling the missing person’s case when their investigations led them to the home in the county.
“We took over from there to support the police,” King said.
Crime scene specialists from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 6 Office in Milledgeville were called to investigate the crime scene where Harris’ body was found.
Earlier Thursday, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Detective Michael “Chris” Burrell obtained a search warrant for the home on Brown’s Crossing Road. The warrant was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alison T. Burleson of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.
King identified the person taken into custody on the probation violation warrant around noon Thursday as James Bonner Jr., 23, of Milledgeville.
“He is currently being held without bail in the county jail,” King said.
Bonner was driving the victim’s car, a 2012 Chevrolet Cruz, when he was pulled over by a Macon-Bibb County deputy, King said.
“The victim’s family used a phone locator, just a standard app, and they were able to locate the vehicle and stop a Macon-Bibb County deputy who was able to secure the victim and Mr. Bonner,” King said.
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