FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Some customers of a Forsyth County auto auction business say the sudden death of its owner has tied up their cars and cash.
Jane Smith and her husband contacted Channel 2 Action News after they said they couldn’t get any answers from Four Seasons Auction Gallery in South Forsyth about their vehicles.
“I’m out $5,300,” Smith said. “I’m out two cars and I sold another car, so it’s a big mess.”
An incident report obtained by Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik says deputies found business owner Stephen White dead Feb. 25 in a car behind the business on Nine McFarland Drive. The report said White appeared to have shot himself in the head after making threats about committing suicide.
A Sheriff’s Department spokesman told Petchenik the customer’s claims are a “civil matter” at this point.
“I would hope people would do the right thing,” said Smith. “This guy owes a lot of people money and I know my situation is not nearly as bad as other people’s.”
James Lamar Wood showed Petchenik a vintage pickup truck the business auctioned off for him.
“He sold my truck. He said it was going to Texas, $30,000. I’ve got no money from it,” he said. “It is registered in another man’s name already and I ain’t got a penny,” Wood said.
Petchenik contacted an attorney representing the business and he told Petchenik he couldn’t make any comments on the situation at this time.