Lowndes sheriff investigating homicide

Published 4:37 pm Monday, May 20, 2019

VALDOSTA — A death during the weekend in Lowndes County appears to be a homicide, the sheriff said Monday.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office was called early Monday by Griffin Concrete and told one of its employees had failed to show up for work, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said.

Company workers who went to the employee’s residence at 2349 Harter Avenue found a body, the sheriff said.

The man, identified as Billy Belle, 52, had a gunshot wound, Paulk said.

Belle lived alone, and was last seen about noon Saturday, the sheriff said.

The body is being sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for an autopsy, Paulk said.

Anyone with information about Belle’s death can call the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, (229) 671-2950.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.