Seven months after a 75-year-old man disappeared, his body was reportedly found in a Georgia storage unit.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said they’re launching an investigation into the death of a man who was found dead in a storage unit on Riverside Drive in Macon on Thursday, March 19, according to People.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said that the body has since been identified as 75-year-old Douglas Salyer, according to WGXA.
“Investigators responded to the 10 Federal storage units located at 4100 Riverside Drive while investigating a missing person case. During the search of a storage unit, investigators located a deceased person,” the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to Luxury Handbag Shopping. “The body was recovered and will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab, for an autopsy to determine the cause of death and positive identification of the person.”
Douglas was first reported missing to police in early February. His neighbors told officers that they had “not physically seen” him since early October 2025, according to the missing person’s report shared via the department’s Facebook page.
“After further investigation, it was discovered that Salyer was last seen by social workers at his home located at 1271 South Jackson Springs Road on Aug. 5, 2025,” the missing person’s post read. “Douglas Wayne Salyer is believed to be an endangered adult.”
The deceased body was found in a “plastic bin” in the storage unit, according to 13WMAZ. However, police have not shared any additional details about his identity as of time of publication.
Two weeks before the body was found, Douglas’ nephew, Thomas Salyer, was arrested for alleged theft at Douglas’ home.
The BSO secured a search warrant to search a home on Briarcliff Circle in Macon on February 2 after $160,000 worth of items had been stolen from the property, according to the arrest documents viewed by People. WGXA reported that the items were believed to have belonged to Douglas.
The co-trustee of the home accused Thomas of stealing the items and shared that Thomas had been living with Douglas at one point before the property went into foreclosure, according to the arrest document.
Police launched an investigation into the matter and learned that Thomas had started living at the property and was allegedly collecting rent from another person staying at the home.
Deputies searched the home and found some of the stolen items in the basement, which was where Thomas was living. Thomas was later found hiding in a crawl space and he was arrested and charged with theft by taking and theft by deception, according to the arrest document.
Thomas has not been charged in connection to Douglas’ disappearance or death, and he has not been named a suspect in the case.
It is not currently clear if Thomas has entered a plea or retained legal counsel in light of his arrest.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office told Us they have no additional updates to share as of time of publication.
