A 48-year-old grandmother has been found dead two days after she was reported missing in Georgia – and her ex-boyfriend was arrested on multiple charges, including kidnapping and concealing a death.
Aimee Lafakis was reported missing Friday, with family members telling Brookhaven police that they last heard from her in a text message at 2 a.m. that day, WSB-TV reported.
On Sunday, investigators were notified by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office that a woman’s body was found on Drowning Creek Road in Gwinnett County.
The body was identified as that of Lafakis, a mother and grandmother, officials said.
Her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Wineinger, 43, was arrested Saturday morning on charges of kidnapping, concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence, making false statements and first-degree burglary.
“Wineinger was interviewed at police headquarters and over the course of the interview, made several statements that were proven to be false,” Brookhaven police said in a statement that only cited his charges of false statements and tampering with evidence, 11 Alive reported.
Gwinnett County authorities also interviewed Wineinger and accused him of the concealment, according the outlet.
Police said they arrested him after interviewing several family members and other people close to Lafakis, Atlanta News First reported.
Lafakis was supposed to have dinner Friday night with her daughter, who went to her mom’s home when she didn’t show or answer her phone, Fox 5 Atlanta said.
The daughter saw Lafakis’ car but her mom was missing.
The mourning family said the woman’s daughters and granddaughter were her whole life.
“She was so proud of them and the bond they shared was just so unique and special,” the family told 11Alive.
”They will make her proud and they will have the beautiful lives she always wanted for them. She was loved by so many and her legacy will be how she lived. She was genuine, fun, loyal, and just a force of nature,” they added.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of death and said additional charges could be filed.
Wineinger made his first court appearance Monday and is being held in the DeKalb County Jail.
A GoFundMe account launched for Lafakis’ daughters has raised more than $9,000 as of Tuesday morning.
“Aimee was taken from her daughter’s (SIC) tragically this past weekend. The purpose of this account is to help her daughters during this trying time. Please let any love for Aimee be shown through love and support for her daughters,” her sister DeeAnn wrote.