Missing Woman's Body Found In Cumming, Police Looking For Suspect

CUMMING, GA — The body of a missing 21-year-old from Lumpkin County was found Wednesday morning in Forsyth County, and now officials are searching for two suspects.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a body was found in Cumming. Hannah Bender, 21, was found buried in a shallow grave off Parks Road near Ga. 306, the AJC reported. Someone tipped off officials of the location.

On Tuesday, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy M. Jarrard posted on Facebook that law Enforcement recovered a Black Ford Ranger they believed was related to the Hannah Bender case.

A few days prior, Jarrard posted on Facebook that on Sept. 21, a murder warrant was obtained by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office for Austin Todd Stryker, 22 of Dawsonville. The Lumpkin County Sheriffs Office began conducting an investigation when a missing person report was filed by the mother of Hannah Bender. Her mother said the last time she spoke with Hannah was Sept. 14 over text message, and reported her daughter missing five days later, the AJC reported. Shortly after receiving the phone call about a missing person, bloody clothing was located.

The Lumpkin Sheriffs Office joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigations searching for Bender, Jarrard wrote, and is now searching for the suspects.

Then on Thursday morning, the GBI posted on its Facebook page that Stryker is wanted for murder in connection with Bender’s death. Additionally, Stryker was joined with Jerry Kyle Harper, 78 of Cumming, and they were last seen in Clay County, West Virginia, the GBI said.

They are believed to be in a white 2000 Ford Explorer with Georgia Tag PXH4402.

The GBI and Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office are coordinating with authorities in West Virginia to apprehend Stryker.

If you have any information, contact the GBI Tipline 800-597-8477 or LCSO 706-864-0414.

Officials have not said where the bloody clothing was found, but they believe Bender was killed in Lumpkin County. It is not clear how investigators connected Stryker to the case, the AJC said. His fiancee, Elizabeth Donaldson, was arrested in connection with Benders disappearance and death, the paper said.