McMIN COUNTY,TENNESSE: In a poignant and long-overdue development, skeletal remains discovered in McMinn County, Tennessee, have finally been identified as belonging to David Dewayne Abbott, a Georgia man who went missing on June 23, 2016.
This revelation brings closure to a family who had been searching for answers for seven long years.
Abbott's remains were found in a wooded area off Highway 30, west of Athens, Tennessee, on Thursday, October 19, according to reports from The Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Relentless detective’s dedication unearths David Dewayne Abbott's fate
"On Monday, we were contacted by retired Fort Oglethorpe Detective Steve Blevins about the possibility of the person being related to a case Detective Blevins had worked in 2016," said McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy.
The discovery came less than a mile from where Abbott left his car before disappearing; his age at the time was 43.
His family had informed the police that he was suffering from schizophrenia and other health issues, as reported by Local 3 News.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, Sheriff Guy disclosed that Fort Oglethorpe Police Department's retired detective Steve Blevins, who was originally assigned to Abbott's case, never gave up on the search.
The investigation was consistently pursued, resulting in the conclusion.
Unraveling the mystery of David Dewayne Abbott
Sheriff Guy affirmed that no evidence of foul play was found. It appears that Abbott had simply "walked off into the wooded area and passed away shortly after leaving his truck on County Road 126," as described by WDEF.
The remains were initially discovered by hunters in the woods on October 19 and were subsequently sent for a forensic autopsy at the Knox County Regional Forensics Center. However, as of the time of reporting, the center has not been available for comment.
Sheriff Guy commended Blevins for his unwavering dedication to the case. Even in retirement, Blevins tirelessly pursued the truth, and his persistence paid off.
"Sometimes it's just finding the truth out and being able to bring some resolutions to the family," commented Guy, according to Local 3 News.
Abbott's fiancee, Regina Snyder, expressed her gratitude that some closure has finally been achieved. She shared her confusion and pain over the years of uncertainty, saying, "Weeks turned into months turned into years with no answers."
She added, "We feel like he was ripped right out of our lives."
Abbott's stepdaughter Mikkayla, also expressed her feelings of loss, lamenting that "he didn't get to see me be a mom. He didn't get to meet my little girl."
Blevins expressed his regret over the case's prolonged status, stating, "We should have got to him. I never had a missing person case that went on this long."
