Sandy Springs police are investigating the death of a 71-year-old woman as a homicide.
Police were initially unsure when exactly the incident occurred, but officers responded to the Old Woodbine Road residence of the victim, Kay Thomasson, around 7 p.m. Wednesday after a family member called. Police later determined that Thomasson was killed during the “early morning hours” on Wednesday.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office told Channel 2 Action News that Thomasson died "as the result of a stab wound to the back of her neck."
A suspect has not been identified. Sandy Springs police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible.
Detectives are searching for Thomasson’s black 2012 Kia Sorento, which is missing. The SUV has a Georgia tag, PWU1162, and a trailer hitch.
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Thomasson missed an appointment on Wednesday and a family member was notified. The family member drove to Thomasson’s home and found her dead inside the house. That family member called police around 7 p.m. and noticed that Thomasson’s car was missing.
Sandy Springs police spokesman Sam Worsham said he didn’t know when Thomasson was last seen by her family, if there was forced entry into the house, if there is any surveillance video of the incident or if anything else is missing from the home.
“We are putting a lot of manpower and effort into this investigation,” Worsham said. “We’re very concerned about this crime and we are looking to get a suspect identified and in custody as soon as possible.”
Worsham said that detectives have been talking to neighbors in the cul-de-sac Thomasson lived in and are also checking phone records. At noon on Thursday, more than 20 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene, including a K-9 unit.
According to online property records, Thomasson had been living in the home since 1975. A neighbor told Channel 2 that Thomasson lived alone.
No other details were immediately available.
This is the second homicide in Sandy Springs this year, Worsham confirmed. The first happened in May, when a man set a house on fire, killing his ex-girlfriend inside. He was later found dead at a Louisiana motel. According to the "Year In Review" magazines published by Sandy Springs, it had zero homicides in 2017 and two in 2016.
Anyone with information about the victim, the car or the incident is asked to contact the Sandy Springs Police Department or CrimeStoppers of Metro Atlanta 404-577-8477.
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