Homicide investigation yields person of interest

Published 8:38 am Monday, September 17, 2012

A Greenville man is dead, and clues in his apparent homicide led investigators to an Airport Road business near Sanford Friday and a person of interest, Covington County Sheriff Dennis Meeks said.

Meeks, who addressed members of the media from in front of Cobra & Mystery Enterprises LLC, identified the victim as 48-year-old Donnie Earl Bone.

Meeks said a resident who had been riding hunting land found Bone’s body under a tarp in a field off Old Drag Strip Road shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday. A BOLO, or “be on the lookout,” was issued for a Chevrolet pickup truck.

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“When we arrived, we found a black male, later identified as Mr. Bone, and quickly determined it was a homicide,” Meeks said. “There were marks on the body but it was hard to determine what made those marks. We’re hoping Montgomery can tell us.”

Meeks said investigators are waiting on autopsy results from the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.

“First, we want people to know that we believe this was something between two people,” Meeks said. “Residents should not be alarmed. With that said, I can say that we worked into the wee hours of the morning on this case, and at about 3 a.m., we got information that led us to the truck, which was found at this residence.”

Reports indicate Bone’s family reported him missing about the same time and it was later determined that the pickup truck belonged to Bone.

According to the sign out front, Cobra & Mystery Enterprises LLC is an auto repair, sales and recycling business.

Meeks said no arrests have been made as of yet.