Possible lead in Cornwell abduction?
An anonymous letter sent to a North Carolina sheriff could produce a lead in Georgia's search for a woman abducted from a Blairsville road last year, according to a newspaper in Murphy, N.C.
The Cherokee County (N.C.) Sheriff's Office received a letter from someone writing about her grandson, and is asking the writer to call immediately, the Cherokee Scout reported on its Web site Wednesday.
The newspaper said the letter could produce a lead in the investigation of Kristi Cornwell's disappearance in August.
Cornwell was abducted while walking along a road at night and talking on a cellphone to her boyfriend. The boyfriend told investigators that Cornwell complained about an SUV following her. He heard a struggle before the call ended.
Investigators have said that Cornwell's abductor may be the same man who tried to kidnap a North Carolina woman nine days before Cornwell disappeared. That incident occurred in Ranger, N.C., about 25 miles north of where Cornwell was last seen. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said it's looking for a white man in his mid-20s driving a silver Nissan Xterra with tinted windows and a brush guard on the front.
The anonymous letter writer is urged to call Randy Cook in the sheriff's office in Murphy, N.C. at 828-557-9882.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
