A woman whose remains were found Friday behind an abandoned house in Jenkins County had been burned before being buried in a shallow grave, said Jenkins County Sheriff Robert Oglesby.
According to investigations so far, 27-year-old Ashley Lovett was reportedly found dead by family members “around October,” and they “just panicked” and decided to conceal the death, he said.
The actual cause of death is still unknown.
The victim’s half-brother Christopher Lovette and stepmother Susan Coleman Lovett (each with surnames spelled differently, Oglesby said) are in custody, charged with concealing a death, tampering with evidence, giving false statements and writings and financial transaction card fraud.
Additional charges may be filed, and others may be charged as well as the investigation continues, he said.
Ashley Lovett was not reported missing until eight weeks ago, but other family members claim they have been suspicious since July. Oglesby said it appears she may have died around October, but until further information is obtained from forensic tests, authorities are still seeking answers.
The human bones found in a shallow grave behind the wood-frame house at the intersection of Old Savannah Highway and Williams Road in Jenkins County have been sent for testing.
“DNA swabs were taken” Monday from a child born to Ashley Lovett to help determine a positive identity, Oglesby said. The child, now between 2 and 3 years old, had been removed from her mother’s custody when the baby was just weeks old and placed with family members, he said.
The victim was “challenged” and received a check for her disabilities — a check Susan Lovett and Christopher Lovette, as well as possibly others, continued to receive, cash and spend after Ashley Lovett’s death, Oglesby said.
When asked whether the suspects intentionally killed the victim, Oglesby said the case is still being investigated, but the suspects have not been charged with murder at this time.
He said, according to suspects’ and witnesses’ statements, the family found Ashley Lovett dead and “just panicked,” burning the body and her mattress in a fire pit behind the house before burying her charred remains. They never mentioned the check as being a reason for any of their actions but did continue using it for their own purposes, he said.
Neighbors have told media sources that the family hurriedly moved after boarding up windows and burning piles of trash in the ditch near the house. Oglesby said there is still a great deal of information to be learned and that some details are being withheld due to the open investigation.
“You just don’t want to know,” he said Tuesday.
Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.