DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Human remains were discovered during the ongoing search for a missing Dougherty County teenager, according to the Dougherty County Police Department.

Police said officers searching for 18-year-old Samuel Jackson, who was reported missing in late June, located the remains in a wooded area while searching locations where Jackson may have been.

At this time, investigators cannot confirm the identity of the deceased individual.

The remains have been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab and the Dougherty County Coroner’s Office for identification and further examination.

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Jackson’s disappearance remains an active missing person investigation, and authorities continue asking for the public’s help in locating him.

This development comes after a deceased person was reported in the Gillionville Road area earlier this week. However, according to Dougherty County Police Department Public Information Officer Phyllis Banks, investigators have not confirmed whether the human remains found during the search and the earlier death investigation are connected. WALB is working to determine whether the two incidents are related, but at this time, no connection has been confirmed by law enforcement.

Anyone with information about Samuel Jackson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Dougherty County Police Department or call 911.

This is a developing story. WALB will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.

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