A dead body was found under a bridge in Dodge County and an arson arrest was made.
Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Office in Eastman arrested Doug Sheriff, age 48, of Eastman on Saturday, July 28, for one count of arson in connection with a burned white BMW vehicle that was discovered on Saturday, July 28, 2018 under the Gum Swamp Creek
Bridge off of Georgia117 (Dublin Highway) north of Eastman.
According to Eastman GBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Whitley, “Saturday morning, deputies with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call concerning a burning car under the bridge.”
Whitley explained that a motorist traveling over the bridge was alarmed over a burning smell and stopped to investigate and called 911. The Eastman Fire Department and Dodge County deputies were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, firemen found the BMW under the bridge in flames.
The car pictured above was found burning under the Gum Swamp bridge by a passerby early Saturday morning, July 28. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)
Woman found burned in car under bridge
After extinguishing the fire, firemen and deputies discovered a body in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The body was identified on Monday, July 30 as Michelle Bazemore, age 50.
An autopsy was performed on the body at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur to determine the identity of the body, cause of death and cause of the fire.
Bazemore was reported to be Sheriff’s girlfriend. Sheriff was taken into custody at the GBI office in Eastman and transported to the Dodge County jail.
A cause and manner of death, Whitley stated in a press release on Monday, are pending further investigation by the medical examiner and investigators with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the state fire marshal’s office and the GBI.
The case remains active and ongoing.
An autopsy was performed on the body at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur to determine the identity of the body, cause of death and cause of the fire.
Bazemore was reported to be Sheriff’s girlfriend. Sheriff was taken into custody at the GBI office in Eastman and transported to the Dodge County jail.
A cause and manner of death, Whitley stated in a press release on Monday, are pending further investigation by the medical examiner and investigators with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the state fire marshal’s office and the GBI.
The case remains active and ongoing.
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#1
Concerned Citizen
on
08/02/18 at 12:55 PM
[Reply]
I really hope the first responders get counseling after finding gruesome scenes like this. The last deputy who found that poor couple from Chester was deeply affected by it yet the Sheriff's office never provided him anything. These things can alter a person drastically!
#2
Anonymous
on
08/07/18 at 08:14 AM
[Reply]
That’s their job if they can’t handle it they need to find another occupation let them go to Atlanta or Macon they see that all the time u don’t see them crying
#3
Concerned Citizen
on
08/17/18 at 08:39 AM
[Reply]
Hate to tell you but mental health needs to be taken more seriously. These type of incidents are not normal everyday time of situations that occur. PTSD can occur and can cause a person to completely abandon who they are because they dont know how to deal. Its terrible that the Sheriff doesnt take his deputies mental state more serious.
