SAVANNAH — Police in coastal Georgia say forensic testing has identified remains found in 2018 as the body of a Louisiana man who had been missing since 2017.

Chatham County Police announced Thursday that the remains are those of 34-year-old Leroy Peter Hargrave Jr.

No cause of death has been determined.

Relatives in Houma, Louisiana, reported Hargrave missing in May 2017, saying he had moved to Savannah for drug treatment and had been living in a homeless shelter and then a house. After their phone calls to Hargrave went unanswered for more than a week, they reported him missing.

Melody Billiot, Hargrave's mother, traveled to Savannah in July 2017 with other relatives to look for him.

His body was found in 2018 near Old Fort Jackson, downriver from downtown Savannah.

Chatham County police say they’re still investigating how Hargrave died and are asking for tips.

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(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Daniel Varnado for the AJC,  Stephen B. Morton for the AJC, Adam Van Brimmer for AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

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