No trauma was found on a body that was discovered floating in Lake Lanier on Sunday, authorities said Tuesday.

However, the badly decomposed nature of the woman’s body means that authorities still have no identification, Nicole Bailes of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies are working with the medical examiner to obtain any remaining viable fingerprints and dental records, Bailes said.

Fishermen found the body shortly before noon Sunday and notified 911. Construction workers were performing routine maintenance on the bridge when one of the workers, Doug Driscoll, took photos of rescuers pulling the body from the water, Channel 2 Action News reported.

“I don’t know how long it’d been in the water, but it didn’t resemble a body,” Driscoll said.

Hall County fire rescuers recovered the body near the Dawsonville marina.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Juana Alzaga (standing) instructs members of the Buford Highway Orchestra Project at the Latin American Association in Brookhaven on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. The orchestra, which is comprised mostly of children of parents who lack legal status, will be featured in the documentary “La Orquesta” coming this month to PBS. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller