Body identified after being recovered from Hanna Creek

Authorities have identified a body recovered from Hanna Creek in Royston on June 8.

The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Amber Brittany Hester of Royston.

According to Nelly Miles, Public Relations Officer for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the body was discovered partially submerged and was believed to have been deceased for several days.

The GBI, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Coroner’s Office and the Madison County Fire and Water Rescue Team assisted in recovering Hester’s body.

Hester was later identified at the GBI Crime Lab with fingerprints taken during an autopsy.

Hester was believed to have disappeared several days before she was found.

No further details, such as a cause of death, have been released at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in this case. Anyone that has any information pertaining to Hester or her disappearance should call the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 706-795-6202 or the Athens GBI Office at 706-552-2309.