Coroner: Remains of missing Georgia man found in Whitley Co.

WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Whitley County coroner has identified skeletal remains found four-years ago as belonging to a man who went missing from Georgia in August 2014.

Richard Wood was 57-years old when he disappeared after being released from jail in London in Laurel County in August 2014.

At the time, deputies said Wood was traveling through Laurel County with a friend when the pair pulled over to sleep at the Pilot Travel Center on Cumberland Gap Parkway in Corbin.

Wood’s friend told investigators that after waking up in the middle of the night, Wood was gone.

Deputies say Wood was arrested August 15, 2014, shortly after 5:00 a.m., about 12-miles south of London. He was accused of looking into the window of a home and beating on the side of the home. He was charged with criminal trespassing 3rd degree.

After being released from jail, Wood was never seen or heard from again, until Wednesday’s positive identification of his remains.

The human remains were found by a pair of fishermen in March 2015 at the end of Happy Hollow Road.