In the late summer of 2009, the life of 36-year-old Dawn Angela McCarty, a Caucasian female from Waycross, Georgia, took a tragic and mysterious turn. Known to some as 'Angel,' she was last seen on the evening of September 23, 2009, walking near Nunn Street in her hometown. It was not initially out of the ordinary for McCarty to be gone from her residence for several days at a time, but as days turned into nearly a week with no word, her family grew deeply concerned and reported her missing on September 29, 2009. An extensive search and investigation into her disappearance were launched, but yielded no solid leads, leaving her loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty for years.
For nearly four years, Dawn's fate remained a mystery. The painful unknown came to a somber end on July 30, 2013, when human remains were discovered in a wooded area off Highway 110 in the neighboring Brantley County. The remains were later positively identified as those of Dawn Angela McCarty. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the location where her body was found led investigators to rule her death a homicide.
Despite the passage of time, the investigation into who is responsible for Dawn's death remains active and is considered a cold case. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has repeatedly appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. As of the 15th anniversary of her disappearance in September 2024, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified. The GBI continues to ask anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward as they seek to bring justice to Dawn Angela McCarty and her surviving family, including her son.
