Shekema Toran, 36, was last seen in Augusta, Georgia, on July 31, and was found dead in Decatur, Georgia, four days later, authorities say.
Summer Veihman/GoFundMe
Shekema Toran
Georgia authorities are investigating the death of a missing woman as a homicide.
Shekema Toran, 36, was last seen in Augusta, Georgia, on July 31, according to a missing person poster previously shared by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said she was believed to be traveling to the Atlanta, Georgia area in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW-1158, driven by Barritz Martin. Authorities did not specify the relationship between Toran and Martin.
Four days later, on August 4, a corpse later identified as Toran was found about 140 miles west in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, a DeKalb Police Department public information officer confirmed in a statement shared with to PEOPLE on Friday, August 9.
According to WRDWpolice said they found the woman dead inside a car parked in the parking lot of a Kroger supermarket. The circumstances surrounding Toran’s death were not immediately clear.
Toran’s mother said in a statement obtained by WRDW that after her daughter disappeared, she received strange text messages that “didn’t sound like her daughter.”
Police said the case is being investigated by the Robbery Homicide Unit.
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“A suspect has been identified and warrants have been secured, but we are unable to release names at this time,” the officer said in the statement.
ONE GoFundMe Campaign raised by loved ones to help offset Toran’s funeral costs, states that she was the mother of three young children.
“Shekema was deeply loved by her family and friends and made an impact on this community,” the fundraiser says.
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