Deputies name 'person of interest' in suspicious death
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Cherokee County authorities are searching for a “person of interest” in the apparent homicide death of a Woodstock woman, who's the missing man’s sister.
Investigators said the whereabouts of 54-year-old Joseph Felton Twilley are unknown.
Lt. Jay Baker said Twilley is considered a person of interest in the apparent homicide of his sister 56-year-old Karen Twilley. Her body was discovered in the car port area outside the Woodstock home she shares with her mother after the elderly woman reported Ms. Twilley missing several hours earlier.
Her younger brother hasn’t been seen since.
“We are calling him a ‘person of interest,’ obviously we found his sister deceased today and we simply want to speak with him and we’re trying to find him,” said Lt. Baker.
He said it’s a possibility Twilley is driving his mother’s 2001 blue Ford Focus with Georgia tags ATC 8621 which turned up missing from her home. Investigators said the station wagon has a tennis ball size “smiley face” on the antenna.
“That car was seen westbound on I-20 this morning at about three o'clock in the morning and when I say seen he was seen on like a car tag reader from local law enforcement,” said Lt. Baker.
He said the BOLO be On the Lookout, for Twilley has been circulated to law enforcement in metro Atlanta, Georgia and to states west of the state.
Baker said one concern is previous statements Twilley made against law enforcement.
“We’ve had some interaction with Mr. Twilley in the past, traffic charges and so forth and apparently had made some threats toward law enforcement,” said Lt. Baker.
He said with many unanswered questions about the apparent homicide of Karen Twilley, investigators are keenly interested in locating her brother Joseph Twilley
“Right now we have a lot of questions that are unanswered and until we speak to him we may not be able to answer those questions,” said Lt. Baker.
Lt. Baker said an autopsy on the body of Karen Twilley should provide an exact cause of death and more direction in the investigation into her apparent homicide.
Joseph Twilley is described by deputies as being 6’02” and approximately 160 pounds.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Joseph Twilley is asked to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.