Body of missing Newton County woman Yolanda Brown found in car near I-20, deputies say

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. - Investigators have confirmed the body found in a car along Interstate 20 earlier this week is that of a missing Newton County woman.

Officials say 53-year-old Yolanda Brown left her home in Covington on Sept. 2 and never returned.

"The body located in the vehicle off I-20 was positively identified as Yolanda Brown," said Newton County Sheriff's Sgt. Jack Redlinger. 

Brown's son Joshua Doughy said his mother was last seen at the Irish Bred Pub in Hapeville, where she met up with someone she connected with online. He said she drove there in her 2020 black Chevy Impala but never came back home.

Monday, troopers with the Georgia State Patrol said they found a vehicle similar to Brown’s Impala.

(Newton County Sheriff's Office)

FOX 5 asked if Brown was the victim of foul play, her cause of death, and if investigators are pursuing any suspects. Sgt. Redlinger said investigators are checking all angles. 

"All leads that we got, investigators and the GBI are exhaustively looking at everything," he said. 

It was also not immediately clear how long the car had been there prior to deputies finding it.

This was not the outcome Brown's family said they hoped for. They are grateful for the support and outpouring of love during this difficult time. They ask for continued prayers and privacy. And they ask you to come forward if you have any information on Yolanda Brown’s death. 

Brown's family issued the following statement from the Davis Bozeman Law Firm on Friday: 

"The family of Yolanda Louise Brown has received confirmation from law enforcement officials that the remains found in the vehicle in Newton County are that of Ms. Brown. This is not the outcome they were hoping for, yet the family is grateful for the community support and outpouring of love they have received during this difficult time. The family also wishes to thank law enforcement agencies for their diligence in searching for and locating Ms. Brown.

"The family asks for your continued prayers and privacy while the investigation into the cause of her death is conducted. It is very difficult to not know the circumstances surrounding her passing, yet they are hopeful that answers will be forthcoming in the weeks and months ahead as the investigation continues. The family asks that if anyone has any information that may be pertinent to the investigation, no matter how small, that you share it with law enforcement. The family is grateful for the continued support." 

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