Murdered Atlanta man’s remains found in Morgan County

The skeletal remains of a 23-year-old man reported missing on Dec. 28, 2020, have been identified by investigators after being discovered in Morgan County. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations confirmed they positively identified the remains of Chanceler “CJ” James McCall on Tuesday. 

“Some of the evidence that we found at the scene led us to believe that it was possibly the person who was missing from the Dekalb County,” said Mary Chandler, special agent-in-charge, GBI Region 6. “The remains were identified through dental records, and the lab will submit them for further testing to determine the cause of death and manner.” 

According to the GBI, they began assisting the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 16, 2021, the same day the remains were located. 

Local authorities had been given a bone by a Rutledge homeowner who said his dog brought the bone home. 

According to the Morgan County Citizen, local law enforcement used a tracking device on the dog to pinpoint an area of interest. 

“The remains were located approximately 100 yards from the dog owner’s house, just past the intersection of Newborn Road and Old Mill Road,” the newspaper reported. 

McCall was reportedly last seen outside of his Decatur apartment. Witnesses reported he was shot and then put in the trunk of his Dodge Charger, which was later found burned out. 

Chandler told Lake Country Today the Dekalb County Sheriff’s office is handling the case.