Two missing firefighters found dead

 

PP Cherian, Dallas

Georgia: Two Georgia firefighters who went missing late last month have been found dead hundreds of miles away in Tennessee, authorities said. Reagan Anderson and Chandler Kuhbander, both of Cocke County, Tennessee, were found with Anderson's vehicle, Hinesville, Georgia police said in a statement Sunday, July 1. No further information has been released.

Police referred questions to the Cocke County Sheriff's Office or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. A representative for the sheriff's office said Tuesday afternoon that the TBI is leading the investigation.

"TBI agents are working with the Cocke County Sheriff's Office to investigate the circumstances leading to the deaths of two people after their bodies were found inside a vehicle on Hollow Road in Cosby Sunday morning," the state agency said in a statement Tuesday.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem for positive identification and to ascertain the cause and manner of death. The TBI said the investigation is ongoing.Liberty County Fire Chief Brian Darby said the department in Midway, Georgia is saddened by the news of two of its firefighters.

"These two extremely dedicated employees put their hearts and souls into protecting and serving the citizens of Liberty County," Darby said in a statement.

A Liberty County fire representative declined to comment Tuesday afternoon. Cocke County, Tennessee, is about 400 miles north of Midway, Georgia. Hinesville police posted information on Facebook last week about the two missing firefighters. The post also included a photo of Andersen's vehicle, a 2017 black Ford Focus.

Anderson was last seen on June 25 at Liberty County Fire Services Station #1. Authorities believe Kuhbander, who was reported missing in Liberty County, was with Anderson, NBC affiliate WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee, reported.

Kuhbandar's vehicle was found in Savannah, Georgia, and Anderson's vehicle was found in Richmond Hill, Georgia, before being found in Tennessee, the station reported.