One of the two badly decomposed bodies discovered last month in a Chattooga County residence has been positively identified as 53-year-old Michael Kevin Bolton of Summerville. The identification was confirmed today by Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy A. McElhaney, citing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner’s Office.

The identity of the second deceased individual is still pending, and the cause of death for both remains under investigation. Coroner McElhaney, in his release, asked the public to “keep this family in your prayers.”

The grim discovery that launched the ongoing investigation occurred on July 22. Two adult bodies were found at a residence on Highway 114, also known as Lyerly Highway, near Chattooga High School. The advanced state of decomposition of the remains initially left many questions about their identities and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Law enforcement officers entered the residence late on a Tuesday after concerned neighbors reported an unsettling lack of activity at the home for several days, coupled with the alarming sight of buzzards circling overhead.

The bodies were promptly transported to the GBI Crime Lab for examination and identification. Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy “Big Mac” McElhaney previously addressed the challenges faced by investigators in determining identities and causes of death given the condition of the remains.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) continues to lead the forensic examination. Their team is working to determine not only the identity of the second individual but also the cause and manner of death for both. The investigation remains active.