Body of woman found in ditch near I-85 identified as an English tutor

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office has identified the woman whose body was found in a ditch on the northbound side of I-85 in Hapeville, Channel 2 Action News reported Friday.

Anne Jeronimus, 42, was covered only with the shirt she was wearing when a maintenance worker found her body Wednesday afternoon near the Sylvan Road exit.

Jeronimus, who has worked as a tutor, became ill Saturday while on a flight to Atlanta, according to Channel 2. Jeronimus’ mother, Virginia, told Channel 2 that her daughter suffered from Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. She believed Anne Jeronimus was severely dehydrated and shaking because of the disease, Channel 2 reported. Anne Jeronimus was taken to the emergency room and later released, Channel 2 said.

Virginia Jeronimus also shared that her daughter was on her way to Detroit to start a new chapter of her life. “She’s just a lovely girl, 42 years old and going off to start a new adventure with a new man,” the mother told Channel 2.

Anne Jeronimus hadn’t been heard from since Monday, her mother told Channel 2. She said her daughter had gone to the airport to change her ticket.

Virginia Jeronimus said someone saw her daughter walking along the side of the freeway, according to Channel 2. She told the station that Anne Jeronimus may have been disoriented and walking aimlessly. Virginia Jeronimus also said her daughter walked five miles a day, so she probably began walking, but the fever got the best of her causing her to collapse, Channel 2 reported.

Detectives told Channel 2 that there were no signs of trauma, and the medical examiner couldn’t determine a cause of death.

Channel 2 said investigators consider Jeronimus’ death suspicious. “Anytime that a person that’s 42 years of age passes away, it’s a suspicious death,” Hapeville Police Detective Stephen Cushing said.

Police have been checking surveillance cameras in a nearby building in hopes of discovering Anne Jeronimus’ last moments, the station said.