Cayle Bywater, 29, Missing since 12/29/07 - Athens, GA(BODY FOUND)

[klaasend]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15032851/detail.html

Police Spokesperson: Cayle Bywater's Body Found

POSTED: 6:08 pm EST January 11, 2008
UPDATED: 11:08 pm EST January 11, 2008


ATHENS, Ga. -- An Athens-Clarke County police spokesperson said during a press conference Friday night the body found in an Athens lake is missing University of Georgia student Cayle Bywater.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, at the request of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, searched the pond at Memorial Park in Athens. Officials said at 4:30 p.m. Friday, divers located the remains of a white female matching the description of 29-year-old Cayle Bywater.

The body was recovered from the pond and is being transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for autopsy and positive identification.

Thursday, Athens-Clarke County officials asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to join the search for 29-year-old Bywater.

As WSB-TV was the first to report, Bywater's glasses were found at Memorial Park in Athens Wednesday. She was reported missing December 29.

Athens-Clarke County police requested the GBI's assistance in tracking down Bywater's whereabouts after several days of searching a local pond.

"Given the circumstances and the need for additional resources, they're going to come in to help us," said Maj. Mark Sizemore with the Athens-Clarke County Police.

When asked about Gary Hilton's possible involvement, Sizemore said, "We have not completely eliminated that potential, however in talking with investigators on that case, we do not believe that Mr. Hilton was in this area at that time."

Hilton has been charged with the murder of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson.

[Peaches]

How sad.  Another young woman lost to the world.  This story is not over but so far, it's a nightmare.   My BFF has 2 girls on that campus.  I've known them for 17 years.   Too close to home. 

[vms]

Body Found in Pond is Missing UGA Student

 
Reported by: 11Alive Staff
Last Modified: 1/12/2008 7:01:30 PM

Investigators said Saturday they have identified a body found in Athens as that of University of Georgia graduate student Cayle Bywater.

The 29-year-old had been missing for two weeks.

Divers found her body Friday in a pond in Memorial Park, the same park she was last seen chasing her dog in on December 28th.

Officials with Athens-Clarke Police said the state crime lab determined Bywater drowned.

Investigators are still awaiting results of a toxicology test. They say foul play is not suspected.


http://www.wxia.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109455

[Nut44x4]

The search for University graduate student Cayle Bywater came to a grim end Friday afternoon.

Divers from the Hall County Sheriff's Department found Bywater's body at 4:30 p.m. in a small lake in Memorial Park, almost two weeks after she was last seen.

It was a difficult end of two traumatic weeks for the Bywater family.

"We want everyone to know how bright and loving Cayle was," said Bywater's mother Valery during a news conference Friday night. "She touched everyone she met."

Valery Bywater thanked the media, community and law enforcement for their efforts during the search.

"We want to thank Detective Dustin Smith who has not had a day off since this case started and I know his heart and soul was in this in finding Cayle," said Bywater. "We would also like to thank the media who has treated this story with great respect during the time of assistance in finding Cayle, and who will continue to do so during the family's time of mourning."

The cause of death remains uncertain pending the results of an autopsy, but the family stated that suicide has been ruled out.

"While the search is over, there are still a lot of questions that have to be answered," said Valery Bywater.

She also said she did not know whether to believe if foul play was involved.

"There's so much I don't understand. Hopefully as they continue to investigate things will make more sense," she said.

She took a moment to address rumors concerning the mental health of her daughter, prior to her disappearance.

"We know that there has been a lot of press about the possible mental status here and we talked to her doctor today and he said that she was not bipolar," she said. "We don't want people to think it was a part of this."

Tiffiny Cohen, Bywater's sister spoke of Bywater's heart and mentioned that her sister handmade everyone's cards and wrapping paper for Christmas this year.

"She does not buy generic gifts, she does everything from the heart," said Cohen.

The family has not set any plans for a memorial service in honor of their daughter's life.

The body was transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy. On Saturday, the Crime Lab officially identified the body as Bywater's and determined the preliminary cause of death as drowning. Investigators still await the findings of toxicology test, but added that foul play is not suspected at this time.

Bywater's body did not appear at first glance to have been the victim of violence, Clarke County Coroner Bobby Tribble told the Athens Banner-Herald.

"There weren't any signs of obvious trauma," Tribble said.

ACC officials dragged the pond on Jan. 4, but were unable to uncover anything.

Bywater was last seen in Memorial Park around 6 p.m. on Dec. 29 and was reported missing on New Year's Eve.

After Bywater's dog Ollie was seen running loose outside her 2004 S. Milledge Ave. home, concerned neighbors contacted police. Bywater's basement door was open, and her purse, wallet, cell phone and car were found at her residence, according to a police report.

On Monday, police obtained a picture of Bywater, taken the day of her disappearance by an undisclosed person. Two days later, a pair of Bywater's eyeglasses were found, spurring the GBI to join the search Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on Bywater is encouraged to contact Detective Smith (706-613-3888, ext 795) or GBI Special Agent Rebecca Shaw (1-800-597-8477).
http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2008/01/11/News/Cayle.Bywater.Found.Dead-3149944.shtml

[pdh3]

 I really feel for Cayle's family.
We were all hoping for a better outcome.

[Nut44x4]

Saturday, January 12, 2008
Update and Memorial Fund
At this time the coroner reports that preliminary findings do not indicate foul play, although it still may take several months for all the test results to return.

Cayle's family is in the process of making arrangements for a Memorial Service in Athens for Saturday, 1/19, and services in Atlanta next Sunday,1/20. Once the details/times have been finalized they will be posted here.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cayle Bywater Memorial Fund using the PayPal button in the right column of this page - or, you can visit any SunTrust Bank to make a donation to the Cayle Bywater Memorial Fund. This tragedy has placed enormous financial burdens on the family , and your support for them at this time of need would be deeply appreciated.

Again, please continue to check back at this website for details regarding the planned services in Athens and Atlanta.
http://findcayle.blogspot.com/

[LilPuma]

I find it odd that this woman's body was found shortly after Hilton was arrested and told police where to find Meredith's remains.  Two young women with their dogs, both found after Hilton's arrest...........it could turn out to be a coincidence, but it's very suspicious to me.  I suppose law enforcement in the various areas where Hilton has been over the last couple of years are looking at some of their cold case files.  I still think he'll be linked to others.  I hope our Georgia Monkeys will keep us posted. 

[vms]

Memorial service planned for Bywater
Body found in Memorial Park pond

By Joe Johnson   |  Monday, January 14, 2008

The family of a University of Georgia graduate whose body was found in a Memorial Park pond two weeks after she disappeared is planning a memorial service Saturday at the park.

The family of 29-year-old Cayle Bywater is planning the service for 2 p.m. Saturday in the park on Gran Ellen Drive, where the UGA grad liked walking her dog and where her body was found Friday.

Investigators still didn't know how Bywater ended up in the pond, and they likely never will unless new evidence comes to light, according to Athens-Clarke police.

"We don't know if she slipped and fell or if (the drowning) was intentional," Athens-Clarke police Capt. Clarence Holeman said Monday.

There was no signs of trauma to Bywater's body, and an autopsy found no evidence of foul play, police said.

Bywater is a UGA graduate who previously worked as a data management specialist at UGA's agriculture college. She was attending graduate school in Gwinnett County and volunteered at Nuci's Space, a nonprofit organization in Athens that provides free treatment for musicians suffering from depression and other disorders.

The family would appreciate donations to assist with the memorial services planned for Saturday. Checks can be made payable to: Cayle Bywater Relief Fund, 3780 Mansell Road, Suite 450, Alpharetta, GA 30022.

Bywater's family is encouraging people planning to attend Saturday's memorial service to bring their "friendly" dogs on leases.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel in Norcross

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/011408/news_bywater.shtml

[MsVada]

I find it odd that this woman's body was found shortly after Hilton was arrested and told police where to find Meredith's remains.  Two young women with their dogs, both found after Hilton's arrest...........it could turn out to be a coincidence, but it's very suspicious to me.  I suppose law enforcement in the various areas where Hilton has been over the last couple of years are looking at some of their cold case files.  I still think he'll be linked to others.  I hope our Georgia Monkeys will keep us posted. 

Me too LilPuma, Me too