Missing woman's body found outside her home, police seek brother

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies are investigating the suspicious death of a 58-year-old woman found outside her home.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said the woman's 86-year-old mother noticed her daughter wasn't in her room Wednesday morning. She called a friend, who called 911 and reported the woman missing around 6:30 a.m.

Deputies responded to the home off Pine Circle in the southwestern part of the county and found Karen Twilley's body near the entrance to the home's basement, where she lived.

Detectives are working to determine the cause of death, but say it does appear suspicious. They are on scene collecting evidence.

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"We are calling it a suspicious death at this time. There were some injuries to the body so we have detectives on the scene now. They're getting a search warrant before we process the area," Lt. Jay Baker said.

Investigators announced early Wednesday night they were searching Joseph Twilley, the victim's brother, as a person of interest in the case.

Neighbors said police told them Twilley was shot.

"She's kind of a loner. Kind of to herself, pretty quiet," neighbor Michelle Bell said about Twilley. "It makes you feel uneasy because I didn't hear anything going on last night."

Bell said she doesn't believe her friend was killed randomly.

"I think it would be someone personal, only because she was a loner and they seemed to target her and nobody else in the neighborhood," she said.

Deputies said Twilley's mother's blue 2001 Ford Focus station wagon, with Georgia tag ATC8621, is missing from the home. The car also has a big smiley face on the antenna. If you see it, you are urged to call 911.

Cox Media Group