Anglin's remains still missing after two-week-long process
Law enforcement officials came up empty in their search for the remains of Jimmy Anglin in abandoned quarries on Rocky Drive this week.
They finished searching the quarries on Tuesday, completing two weeks of draining what was initially thought to be one quarry, but turned out to be two. Both quarries were drained, searched and cleared, said James Jackson, the Oglethorpe County coroner and 911 director.
“We were able to get the second side pumped and it was cleared at 12:02 (p.m.),” Jackson said in an email.
The draining process started on Friday, April 22 and continued through equipment issues until searchers could access the bottom of the first quarry on Sunday.
The search of the quarries revealed approximately 80 tires, several empty 5-gallon buckets, four empty 55-gallon drums, a recliner and household garbage. Jackson said they used a fire truck hose to gently clean the contents they found at the bottom of the quarry while searching for Anglin’s remains.
Anglin went missing in November 2017. His cousin Robert David Jordan was found guilty of murdering him in March.
Following the trial, law enforcement officials received tips that Anglin’s remains could be located in the quarry owned by 3Star Holdings LLC, as Jordan would frequent it to fish, Jackson said.
Officials don’t have other leads on the location of Anglin’s remains, Jackson said in an email.
Officials cleared the first quarry on Sunday and moved the large water pump to the second quarry, which was already halfway drained, Jackson said.
Oglethorpe County Fire Rescue members used a cage to reach the bottom of the first quarry on Sunday afternoon. Before being cleared, fire department personnel used a saw to cut open several barrels they located.
Jackson said since the quarry hadn’t been drained in about 20-25 years, they expected any containers or drums placed in the last five years, such as one possibly containing Anglin’s remains, to be near the top of the quarry’s contents.
The second quarry leaked into the first quarry, delaying the pumping process, so officials placed a smaller pump into the second quarry to get the water line below the crack between the two.
After the first quarry was cleared, Jackson said officials used the equipment and resources to conduct a search of the second quarry.
The entire draining and search process took longer than expected due to the unanticipated depth of the first quarry. Officials had thought by Friday they would have the first quarry drained and searched, but ran out of propane.
Once the pump was running again, they realized there were about 20 more feet of water, adding to the delay. Jackson said it took about an hour to drain 8-9 inches of water because it had to travel over 60 feet straight up the side of the quarry.
Elbert County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management drone teams were also used in the search. If the drone footage revealed anything, rescue personnel would be lifted to that area.
The quarry had been previously searched because of swimming or diving related accidents, but not to this extent, Jackson said.
Officials worked around the clock and personnel were at the site throughout the process.