The body of a missing man has been found in the wall of an abandoned motel by a thief who had broken into the property.
Timothy Johnson was last seen on December 6 and police found his car the next day at Crestview Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia.
Captain Dwayne Jones said investigators searched the property three times and cadaver dogs searched the area twice but found nothing.
However, more than two months later, a trespasser stumbled across it at a former Howard Johnson motel.
Timothy Johnson (pictured) was last seen on December 6 and his body was found by a thief
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office saying the thief found the body near a wall cutout that exposed copper pipes and plumbing.
He fled the scene and called 911 and the body was taken to the state crime lab for an autopsy and positive identification.
Griffin police Lt. Joe Hudson rushed to the motel and later notified fire crews who were eventually able to locate the body.
The sheriff’s office said: ‘Identification documents found on the remains indicated (it was) Timothy Johnson.
Mr Johnson’s car was found by police officers at Crestview Baptist Church in Griffin (pictured)
‘The body was taken to the GBI crime lab for an autopsy and positive identification.
‘All indications are that the body recovered is Timothy Johnson. No foul play is suspected at this time, but investigators are awaiting results from the autopsy.’