Skeletal Remains Found In Banks Crossing Identified

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Skeletal remains found behind a motel in Banks Crossing last year have now been positively identified as those of a South Carolina man.

On Tuesday, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office announced forensic tests have concluded the bones belong to Terry Lee Holbrooks of Fairplay-Westminster, South Carolina.

In February 2014, three people were panning for gold in a creek behind the Dandelion Inn in the Banks Crossing Shopping mall area when they discovered a human bone along the creek bed.

The trio notified the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, who requested the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

An exhaustive search of the creek and the land surrounding it took place over the next two days.

GBI agents and Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputies located more human, skeletal remains as well as other items.

Among the other items discovered were a men’s digital watch and a cigarette lighter with the name “Marty” engraved on it.

A preliminary examination of the remains by a University of Georgia Anthropologist at the time indicated the remains belonged to an adult male.

The tests concluded the person could have been missing or dead since as early as 2006.

All of the remains were sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for more analysis.

Meanwhile, the cause of Holbrooks’ death is still under investigation.

The Banks County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI are asking anyone with any information regarding Holbrooks’ death to contact the Banks County Sheriff’s Office or the GBI Tip Line at (800) 597-8477.

People do not have to give their name.