A 78-year-old-man remains in custody and is identified as a main person of interest in the murder case of a Lumpkin County woman whose body was recovered in Forsyth County Wednesday.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), a Dawson County motorist spotted Jerry Kyle Harper in a SUV Friday and Dawson County deputies shortly arrested him after the initial sighting.
The GBI took charges against Harper Thursday accusing him of concealing the death of 21-year old Hannah Bender who was reported missing September 19th, as well as tampering with evidence.
According to Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, the body of Bender was found in a pasture off Georgia Highway 306.
Jarrard said it is unclear at this time what the cause of death is, but the autopsy will reveal more information in time as the investigation continues.
"The investigation will continue and we will have to wait on the autopsy results to get 100-percent confirmation and then determine the cause of death," he said. "We will still be actively looking for Austin Todd Stryker."
Investigators originally thought Stryker and Harper were eluding authorities driving a black Ford Ranger pickup, but law enforcement recovered the abandoned vehicle just days after bloody articles of women's clothing were found.
Jarrard said Stryker remains on the run.
One arrest in the case has been made according to Jarrard, though it is unclear what their ties are to the case since it is an ongoing investigation.
"Elizabeth Donaldson, Stryker's fiancee, has been arrested and remains in custody in Dawson County," he said. "The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seeking charges on her in connection to the case."
The GBI confirmed Wednesday evening that Donaldson, 21, has been charged with tampering with evidence.
Jarrard said there is a possibility of other arrests that could be made, but at this time multiple agencies are focusing on locating Stryker.
"If anyone knows his location, I would appreciate the knowledge so we can get him in custody," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office investigators at 706-974-6824.
