Woman's Body Found In Mall Food Court Identified: Gwinnett Police

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The remains of an unidentified Asian woman, found Dec. 21 in a vacant vendor space in the food court of Gwinnett Place Mall, have been identified, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.

With help from the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office, the woman has been positively identified at Silling A. Man, 19, of Lawrenceville. She was of Cambodian descent. After a composite sketch of the victim was published, the lead investigator received several tips about the possible identity of the deceased woman.

Silling was previously reported as a missing adult on Oct. 8, 2017 by a family member. Shortly after the missing person case was assigned to an investigator, Silling returned home, and she was removed from GCIC Oct. 10. The family said that she ran away again shortly after the missing person case was closed. No additional missing person report was filed.

This case has not been ruled as a homicide by the Medical Examiner’s Office, though the circumstances surrounding her death are still being investigated. It is believed that Silling died about two weeks prior to her body being found. There were no surveillance cameras in the mall corridors at the time.

The family did not have any contact with her since her re-disappearance on Oct. 10. The detective learned that she visited her previous place of employment at the Perimeter Mall to pick up her last paycheck on or around Nov. 20. Silling was a student at Georgia State University, though her current status is unknown.

The detective is looking into Silling’s activities and acquaintances leading up to her death. If anyone has any information about her from mid-October to mid-December, they are asked to call GCPD detectives at 770 513-5300.

Silling's body was found when a maintenance worker said he was doing a routine inspection of the vacant food court unti and that the side door to the restaurant was locked, according to police. He climbed over the counter to inspect the space. The woman's body was found in the back room.

The responding officer noted in the report that the woman had black hair and was wearing a black mesh-style jump suit. Her black tennis shoes were lying next to her feet.

Police reported that there were no obvious signs of trauma to her body.

"It's very likely that a family is out there wondering about the whereabouts of their missing loved one," said Cpl. Michele Pihera, Gwinnett Police Department, when the body was discovered. "Though this may not be the outcome they may have been hoping for, we still feel it's important to bring them closure, as heart-breaking as it is."

Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department