Recognize him? Deputies work to identify child's remains in Rockdale County

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Forensic renderings show what a young boy whose remains were found in Rockdale County may have looked like. (Credit: NCMEC/Rockdale County Sheriff's Office)

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - Deputies are seeking information from the public to help identify a young boy whose skeletal remains were found in a wooded area in Rockdale County.

What we know:

The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office said the skeletal remains were found in a wooded area near Honey Creek Road and Tucker Mill Road on Nov. 14, 2025.

DNA testing confirmed the remains belong to a male child of Sub-Saharan ancestry, believed to have been between 6 and 7 years old, authorities added. 

At the time he was found, the child was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and boys' shorts, the sheriff's office said. 

A National Center for Missing & Exploited Children forensic artist released facial approximation images showing what the boy may have looked like.

What we don't know:

The child's identity and cause of death remain unknown.

Authorities have not publicly identified how long the remains had been in the wooded area prior to their discovery in late 2025.

What you can do:

Anyone with information regarding the boy's identity or the active investigation is asked to immediately contact Investigator L. Smith with the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 770-278-8044 or via email at Lea.Smith@RockdaleCountyGA.gov.