The remains of a missing Meriwether County woman may have been inside a well in Fairburn, leading Fulton County investigators to reopen a 20-year-old missing person case.

Fulton County police told Channel 2 Action News someone walked into the police department three weeks ago and told them the remains of the woman were inside a well along Rivertown Road. Police did not confirm the woman’s identity or the tipster’s relationship to the case.

According to missing person records, Lori Denise Washington was last seen July 3, 1997. She was in her mid-20s when she went missing and would be 45-year-old this year.

The new investigation shocked resident Allin Shropshire, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 30 years.

“So I come out and look out the door and see all this commotion, it’s just hard to believe,” Shropshire told Channel 2.

Fulton County investigators have been tight-lipped about the search. They confirmed a tip they got about the 1997 missing person case, but they didn’t say any more than that.

“There will be nothing further to report until our investigation at the current location is completed,” Fulton police spokeswoman Cpl. Maureen Smith said.

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