Missing 19-year-old’s mom, investigators reveal new clues 7 years after her disappearance

PORTERDALE, Ga. — Investigators said they are one step closer to solving the disappearance of a 19-year-old woman who vanished in the metro Atlanta area seven years ago.

Morgan Bauer vanished two weeks after moving from Illinois to Atlanta in 2016. She was originally from South Dakota.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was in Porterdale Friday, where multiple investigators from the FBI and at least five other agencies descended on a property Thursday to search for evidence.

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Police said a tip brought them to the home in Newton County, where searches uncovered some evidence. Investigators haven’t said what kind of evidence they found.

On Friday, orange and white barricades were placed around the property because police said the people currently renting the home have nothing to do with the investigation and they are asking people to respect the residents’ privacy. The current residents did not live at the home when Bauer disappeared.

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Investigators are more focused on the property than on the home itself.

NewsChopper 2 was over the scene Thursday, where the FBI, Porterdale Police, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, The Newton County District Attorney’s Office and police from Peoria, Illinois conducted grid searches.

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Fernandes asked Sgt. Anthonry Walden with the Newton County District Attorney’s Office how they zeroed in on the Porterdale property.

“I will tell you that over time, sometimes the info becomes clear or locations become clear, and I believe that’s what they’re basing it off,” Walden said.

Channel 2 Action News did confirm that witnesses reported seeing Bauer in Porterdale before she disappeared.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, investigators had finished their search but may return at some point.

“It is a fairly good-sized property, so it may continue. We can’t guess at this time,” Walden said.

Police Chief Jason Cripps said that for hours, several investigators collected a lot of good evidence, more than they’ve ever had on the case. Cripps didn’t want to reveal specifically what they found because he doesn’t wan to compromise the case.

Fernandes also spoke to Bauer’s mother via phone Friday. Sherri Keenan said she’s trying to stay positive, and she’s encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

“As a parent and a person, I would hope you’d want to come forward not only to solve this case, but to bring peace to Morgan and her friends and the rest of her family,” Keenan said.

Keenan said that right now, she and Bauer’s family are taking things minute-by-minute.

“At this time, my family and I are doing our best to be grateful, graceful, peaceful and prayerful,” Keenan wrote on social media. “Please allow us time to navigate this process.”

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