GRADY COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) - The Grady County Sheriff’s Office believes that skeletal remains discovered Sunday afternoon near the Thomas-Grady County line in Grady County belong to a Thomas County man who had been missing since July 2022.

Sheriff Martin “Earl” Prince told WCTV in an interview Monday that a citizen near the county line was walking through their property Sunday when they discovered the remains.

“We believe that this may be, we’re not 100% sure that this may be one of our missing people here, Mr. Trent Hires,” the sheriff said.

WCTV previously reported that Hires was last seen near the Thomas-Grady County line after a high-speed chase, during which he left his car and ran away.

The news comes after the sheriff’s office announced in an incident alert just before 1 p.m. Monday that remains were discovered in a wooded area along Barnetts Creek near the county line in Grady County.

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“At this time, there is no threat to public safety, and the area is secure,” GCSO said. “Law enforcement officials are actively processing the scene. Additional information will be released to the public as it becomes available.”

The remains are being sent off to a crime lab for examination, according to Sheriff Prince.

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