Bodies found in Oglethorpe Co. identified as ex-UGA professor, wife

By MASHAUN D. SIMON

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The bodies of two people found in rural Oglethorpe County Saturday morning have been identified as a former University of Georgia professor and his wife, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

The bodies of Lothar Karl Schweder, 77, and Sherry L. Schweder, 65, were found along a dirt road near Lexington, Ga.

Lothar Schweder was a retired professor who had taught German at UGA, according to the Banner-Herald. Sherry Schweder worked at the university’s main library as a humanities bibliographer, William Potter, head of UGA libraries, told the newspaper.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s department, are investigating. It is too soon to determine the cause of death, said Christopher Bish, assistant special agent in charge of the Athens field office for the GBI. However, Oglethorpe County Coroner, James Matthews told the Banner-Herald that autorities have not ruled out foul play, adding that “a lot of things seem strange.”

The couple were found by visiting Jehovah’s Witness members and may have been on the scene at least 24 hours.

The GBI responded to a call about the bodies around 10 a.m. Saturday morning. They arrived on scene along Highway 77 near Highway 78 about an hour later.

Autopsies are scheduled for Monday morning at GBI headquarters to determine cause and manner of death, Bish said.