An Atlanta bookstore owner and mother of two was killed and dumped in a creek about an hour's drive from her business, authorities said.
42-year-old Erica Atkins went missing on Sunday. Her remains were discovered by a fisherman in Cedar Creek at around 1:15 p.m. Monday, police said.
The victim was the owner of Birdsong Books in Henry County. Investigators believe she was murdered there before being dumped in the Putnam County creek.
Romero Johnson, 38, was charged with kidnapping and murder in connection with the horrifying crime.
Detectives said that Johnson was a former boyfriend of Atkins and worked at her bookstore.
“I still have a sick feeling in my stomach, in my head. I just keep thinking about her,” a friend of Atkins said.
“It just floored me. Basically, it floored me beyond measure. I was just completely devastated.”
