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CNN Live Sunday

More Than 100 Decomposing Bodies Found In, Around Georgia Crematorium

Aired February 17, 2002 - 17:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Veteran police officers were stunned, experienced coroners are horrified. We're talking about the discovery of nearly 100 decomposing bodies found in and around a Georgia crematorium. The details seem to grow more gruesome by the hour. CNN's Art Harris is following the story from the scene in Noble, Georgia and he joins us there live now. Hi there, Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. What you hear is the governor's helicopter, Roy Barnes, taking off after trying to comfort the grieving families who have learned that loved ones have been found strewn about the woods here at a crematorium that was supposed to put them in urns and sent them home.

Many tell us they now find the urns are filled not with the ashes of their loved ones, but with concrete and other material. They have no idea what it is. They brought the urns here to give to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials to find out what's in the urn, and also to find out where their loved ones are.

The governor is now taking off, after promising that he will get to the bottom of this gruesome scene, some describe as purely out of a Stephen King novel or worse. More than 100 bodies have been discovered, officials tell us. More than 100 other expected.

They expect to find than 100 of others, and that today they found a vault that was supposed to hold one body, filled with 20. There are five vaults in sheds beyond the crematorium and they have yet to open those, Fredricka. They don't know what they'll find, but it's just the beginning of a very, very gruesome tale.

This is Art Harris reporting live, Walker County, Georgia for CNN.

WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot, Art. It is indeed a very gruesome investigation.

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