UPDATE: Arrest made following discovery of decomposed body in east Macon last month

A man is in custody and charged with murder following the discovery of a "badly decomposed" body last month in east Macon.

UPDATE (10/21/24):  A man is in custody and charged with murder following the discovery of a “badly decomposed” body last month in east Macon.

According to a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office news release, 42-year-old Roy Deon Thornton III was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

He’s being held without bond.

Deputies have not revealed the identity of the person who was found dead.

Also Monday, deputies said Thornton was charged in connection with a fatal shooting at Exxon on Spring Street last month.

UPDATE (9/17/24): The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to a report of a stolen vehicle just before 3 p.m. at the dead end of Emery Highway Lane.

According to a news release, deputies noticed “the distinct smell of something decomposing” and found the body after searching the area.

“At this time, it has not been determined if the stolen vehicle and the deceased person are connected,” the release stated.

Call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME if you have information.

ORIGINAL STORY (9/17/24):

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb Coroner Leon Jones says a “badly decomposed” body was found in a trash can on Emery Highway Lane on Tuesday.

Emery Highway Lane runs parallel to Emery Highway.

Jones says the body was found around 3:30 p.m. and that he pronounced the person dead about 45 minutes later. “It has been there for a while,” he said.

The body will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Crime Lab Wednesday morning, according to Jones.

That’s all the information we have right now. Check back for updates.