Folks living in a South Augusta neighborhood speaking out after dead body found

UPDATE: The Richmond County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the body found behind a home in South Augusta. According to the Coroner’s Office, the body has been identified as Chandra Buffington, 47 years old.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- An investigation is underway tonight after a person was found dead this morning at a South Augusta home. The body was discovered around 10 a.m. on Abelia Drive. That’s off Lumpkin Road.

“Something is always happening, right here, every single day,” one neighbor said.

Neighbors on Abelia Drive tell NewsChannel 6 they’re concerned about what they call an influx of homeless people.

“We are hoping that somebody does something soon about the homeless people. There are so many of them that sit because they have no place to go. And unfortunately, the majority of them are on something– whether it’s meth, coke, whatever it is…”

Monday morning the Richmond County Coroner’s Office responded to an Abelia Drive home after a body was discovered in a backyard.

“It’s scary, I’ve never seen a dead person before. It’s scary to know that it’s right here…,” a neighbor said.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. This neighbor who did not want to be identified says an incident like this was bound to happen because of the increase in drug use they’ve seen on their street.

“We were waiting for somebody, I hate to say it, to pass because of the meth that goes on,” the neighbor said. “We’ve already had kids see meth pipes, we’ve already had kids see guns on the ground because it’s left there, because the other people forget that it’s there when they’re doing their drugs. We’ve had so many kids ask us why, and we can’t– we don’t have answers.”

She says something has to be done.

“It’s time that the police stop here, just fly– whatever you got to do– just show up so that people know that you’re here so we’re safe.”

Investigators have not released any information, but they say the investigation is ongoing.

Richmond County coroner Mark Bowen says the body has not yet been identified and will be taken to Atlanta for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

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