Police investigate death of Comer man found dead in Athens motel room

Athens-Clarke police are investigating the death of a Madison County man who was found dead by a cleaning lady in an Athens motel room.

The man’s car is also missing and police reported that evidence shows one or two other people had been in the room that evening.

The body of the 61-year-old Colbert man was taken to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy. There was no identification on the man, but police reported they believe they have identified him. Police suspect the death is a drug overdose due to what officers found in the room at the Howard Johnson on West Broad Street.

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Police were called to the room about noon Wednesday after the housekeeper entered the room and found him partially on the bed, according to the report. A glass pipe was found lying next to the man. The report shows other burned glass pipes and bottles of alcohol beverages were also located. The officer documented that no lighters were located in the room.

Police also noted that the man’s car keys, his cell phone and his wallet, if he had one, were also missing. A car belonging to the man, a 2019 Toyota Camry, was gone, police said.

A check with registration showed three names on the room. Police Lt. Jody Thompson said Friday that police are trying to locate those that were registered for the room.

It is not uncommon for people to rent rooms to do drugs, Thompson said. He said officers are looking at the death as a possible overdose, but are awaiting the autopsy results.

Detectives don’t know if his companions left after he died or if he died after they left, Thompson said.