Questions remain after discovery of missing teacher’s body

SANDERSVILLE, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A sad update to a story we’ve been following for a week now. Investigators in Washington County found what they believe to be the body of Tina Prince.

Prince was a well-known teacher in Washington County for years. She’s been missing since last Friday. And today the search came to an end. As the sheriff broke the news to the devastated community.

he discovery came a week after Prince’s family last saw her walk out of a restaurant in Sandersville. Praying for the best, they heard the worst.

“Today we located what we believe to be the body of Tina Prince,” Sheriff Joel Cochran said Friday.

“You know, when you lose someone is just so sad. And you really want them back,” said Mason Evans, Tina’s nephew.

Just hours before the sheriff’s announcement we spoke with Tina’s nephew who was still holding on to hope.

“It’s been very traumatic for me it’s been very sad knowing that someone that always rose me up and made me feel whole, whenever I didn’t, has just gone,” he said.

The first-grade teacher walked out of Puebla’s Mexican restaurant on Friday after eating with family. Next, she was spotted on a security camera at a convenience store. Then police saw her on surveillance video at a Walmart talking to a man she knew. Investigators say that man is 31-year-old Aaron Matthew Adams who has now been charged in connection with her disappearance.

The sheriff said the body was found along rural Pleasant Grove Road, about 17 minutes away from the Walmart where she was last seen with Adams.

“We’ve utilized every resource possible to bring Tina back to her parents and to her family and to bring some closure of somewhat to our community,” said Sheriff Cochran.

Adams has been charged with felony concealing a death and 2 felony counts of false statements. More than 8 agencies joined in on this week-long search for Prince.

There’s a hole in the community because of this,” said Sheriff Cochran.

A teacher, mother, and friend is gone. And as they wait for more answers a community is grieving.

Tonight the cause of death is unknown. The GBI lab will do the autopsy and make a positive identification.

And this is still an active investigation. If you know any other information that might help in this case call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. That number is 478-552-0911.

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