Man drowns trying to save girlfriend’s 14-year-old son; teen’s body also recovered

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Newton County Sheriff's office said they have recovered the body of a 14-year-old who went missing on a metro Atlanta river earlier this week.

The body of a 38-year-old man was also recovered Wednesday.

Officials identified the teen as Dejerein Grier of Covington and the man as Antonio Perry.

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Channel 2′s Tom Jones was at Flat Shoals Park on the Alcovy River, where officials said Grier and Perry went under Tuesday in rough waters and never resurfaced.

Jones spoke to family members, who Perry was trying to save Grier, who was his girlfriend’s son.

Jones spoke to another mother who also lost her 14-year-old son in the river seven years ago.

Roxanne Talley’s son, Jeremiah Talley, drowned in 2013.

“I lost my life,” Talley said. “I lost my son.”

Talley said she had no idea how many people lost their lives on the river. She said Jeremiah’s foot got stuck on a branch underwater and he couldn’t break free. His friend tried to help him, but Jeremiah told him to save himself.

“He was like, “Go!” and he just went down,” his sister, Jaylah Talley, said.

Roxanne Talley said there were no signs alerting her to the danger when her son lost his life.

She said three days after Jeremiah’s death, officials posted signs warning people there was no lifeguard on duty and to swim at your own risk.

The sheriff’s office is urging people to stay away from the rapids and be extra cautious in the water. Officials said there are strong currents and the depth of the water changes quickly in some locations.

Several people have drowned at Flat Shoals Park over the years. A woman died there while fishing with friends in October 2016. A decade ago, Channel 2 Action News reported on two different drownings at Flat Shoals Park within a week of each other.

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