COVINGTON, Ga. – Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in tracking the last movements of 23-year-old Shanequa Quanee Sullivan whose body was found in the Yellow River earlier this month and any information in the case.
Tuesday afternoon, Newton County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jeff Alexander released Feb. 4 video footage from the MARTA station at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport showing Sullivan leaving her job at the airport at around 3:30 p.m.
In it, Sullivan is seen wearing her work uniform consisting of black pants and shoes and a burgundy smock with the letters ABM on it. She was also wearing a heavy hooded coat and carrying red tote bag and a pink umbrella. Alexander said no other video of Sullivan has been located, including video from other MARTA stations.
She was reported missing by her grandmother Feb. 4 when she failed to return home from work.
Sullivan’s body was found in the river by a fisherman around 4 p.m. March 3. Alexander said the body was identified by the GBI using fingerprints. He said Sullivan’s fingerprints were on file with the FBI as a result of her job at the airport.
Alexander said the autopsy indicated the body could have been in the river as long as a month.
“The medical examiner stated at autopsy that it could have been as long as three weeks or even a month,” he said. “So she could have gotten into the water very shortly after she was reported missing.”
Authorities are estimating that the body went into the river not far from where it was found.
“That’s the thing about the Yellow River here in Newton County – it’s a twisting, turning river. There’s not a straight part of this river that goes on very long at all,” he said, “ We’re kind of estimating that anywhere from a quarter of a mile to a third of mile north of where she was located is about the only place she could have gone in without being snagged up somewhere else.”
Alexander reiterated Sullivan’s body was found intact. He also said she was not wearing the same clothes when she was found that she was seen wearing in the airport video. Citing the ongoing investigation, he declined to elaborate on what clothing the body was found in.
Alexander said investigators have interviewed Sullivan’s co-workers and friends but have not been able to develop any leads in the case. He said Sullivan, nor do any of the people interviewed in the case have any known connections to Newton County.
The sheriff’s office is asking for anybody with any information about the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit crimestoppersatlanta.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.
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Managing Editor Jackie Gutknecht contributed to this report.
