BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Police have identified the remains of a body found in Haralson County as missing mother of three, Heather McDonald.
McDonald was last seen in Cartersville in September. Her Jeep was found in a motel parking lot.
Investigators found McDonald’s remains Sunday in an area off Coppermine Road.
A person of interest in the case is in custody in an unrelated case.
McDonald was a petite woman standing just 5 feet tall. But her relatives told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez, she had a dynamite personality, could make anyone laugh and was dedicated to her husband and three children.
Witnesses said they saw McDonald visiting an apartment where a registered sex offender lived not long before she was reported missing.
"Yeah, she was here for a couple of nights. Yeah, she went right upstairs. I don't know what happened," neighbor Dawn Seldor said.
The man was arrested last month on an outstanding warrant for violation of the sex offender registry.
"He used to have a sign on his door saying he was a sex offender," Seldor said.
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Seldor said she didn’t know much about the relationship between the missing mother and the man, who authorities say is a person of interest in the case.
After McDonald was reported missing, Seldor said a police investigator came to question her.
“They asked when she left, if I had seen any strange activity the time she was here – that sort of stuff like that,” Seldor said.
Seldor said the man had been living in the apartment for more than a year, but moved out soon after McDonald was reported missing.
“(He) just packed up and decided, ‘I can’t afford rent’ and left,” she said.
Seldor said she doesn’t believe her neighbor had any involvement in the mother’s disappearance.
“He didn't seem dangerous. I trusted him in our home with our children. He didn't seem like he would do anyone harm,” she said.
McDonald’s family don’t believe the man was involved in her death. Sources close to this case told Channel 2 Action News, he was found about 15 miles away from where Heather's remains were found.
The victim’s family did not want to do an interview Thursday evening, but did release a statement saying:
"Our world is rocked. We have had nothing but the highest hopes of seeing Heather again since she disappeared over 6 weeks ago. Our thoughts and efforts are now turned to Stefan, Olivia, Molly and Nova- as well as Lisa, Heather's mom and Madison, Heather's sister. We, the family appreciate every thought and prayer in this horrible time."
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of McDonalds’ death.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information in the case.
Cox Media Group
