Georgia stepsisters found dead near highway were thrown off bridge, had plastic bags over their heads: Police
ROME, GEORGIA: Authorities in Georgia have launched an investigation after finding the bodies of two stepsisters under a bridge.
The two stepsisters were found with plastic bags over their heads and their clothes were torn and tattered. The bodies of Vanita 'Vera' Richardson, 19, and Truvenia 'Bean' Campbell, 31, were discovered under a highway overpass earlier this week.
The Floyd County Chief Deputy Coroner Connie Chandler revealed that the women were found unresponsive under the East Rome Bypass bridge close to the bank of the Etowah River on Wednesday, May 13, morning.
Chandler shared that the cause of death for both women is currently under investigation and were taken to the state crime lab on May 14, Rome News Tribune reports. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a press release which stated that the sisters' death had been ruled as a homicide.
According to WSB-TV, two maintenance workers had discovered the bodies in the morning around 11 am while they were working in the area and had alerted 911. The workers had told dispatchers that the women had plastic bags over their heads and that their clothes were all torn up.
Scanner traffic said that indicated that some shell casings had been found at the scene but this has not been confirmed by the authorities. Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Assistant Special Agent In Charge Brian Johnston said that Rome police officers had secured the area with many local agencies after the bodies were discovered.
Johnston said, "We’ve been called to assist on the investigation into two bodies that were found just over the bridge here that were apparently dropped over the bridge." He added that the investigation is ongoing and is in the early stages.
Johnston shared, "We’re working on those leads right now. That’s about all the information I can give you right now."
Many people took to social media to mourn the deaths of the stepsisters. Vanita had been attending the Armuchee High School and was going to graduate this year. Spokesperson Lenora Doss issued a statement on behalf of the Floyd County Schools.
The statement read, "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the news of the death of one of our students, Vanita Richardson, who was scheduled to graduate next Saturday. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Armuchee Community and her friends and family at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Vanita will be remembered for being a fun-loving, humble, and motivated student who was making strong plans for her future."
A close friend of Truvenia, Kayla Dotson, said that the sisters' death had come as a shock to her. While speaking to 11Alive, Dotson said she has known Truvenia since she was 9 years old. "She was like my sister. I’m just heartbroken," she said.
The GBI is currently talking to everyone in the women's lives and is trying hard to get some leads on the person/s responsible for the murders.
GBI investigators are asking anyone who may have been in the area of the overpass between May 12 at 10.30 pm and May 13 at 11 am to contact them at 1800-597-8477.