Public’s Assistance Requested in 33-year-old Jones County, GA Homicide Investigation

Jones County, GA  – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in solving a 33-year-old homicide investigation related to the death of William Maholland (pictured below) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

On May 26, 1984, a fisherman discovered the remains of a human body in a wooded area in northern Jones County about a mile from Jarrell Plantation Road in the Hitchiti Experimental Forest.  The victim, a white male, believed to be between the ages of 25 and 35, was wearing only a pair of Tweedo brand, Safari-style, khaki trousers, with a size 32-inch waist and a canvas or webbed belt with a swordfish design.  A black coral ring was found on his right little finger.

An autopsy conducted by the GBI revealed the cause of death as being a single gunshot wound to the head with the manner ruled as a homicide.

On October 23, 2006, DNA samples were collected from the body during a disinterment and submitted for possible matching of missing persons in the National DNA Index System through the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

On Friday, November 11, 2016, the GBI was contacted by a forensic analyst with the University of North Texas Health Science Center advising DNA from the unidentified body was consistent with the DNA of Dianna Maholland, the victim’s mother.  The Ft. Lauderdale Police Department had placed his mother’s DNA into the system.  At that time, it was determined that the unidentified body was that of William Maholland.  Subsequently, contact was made with Fort Lauderdale Missing Persons Unit, which also had a missing persons case on William Maholland since around the time his body was found in Georgia.  

This 33-year-old joint homicide investigation remains active and ongoing by the above agencies.  Anyone with information about William Maholland’s death is encouraged to contact the GBI at 478-445-4173 or Ft. Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5534. 

Joe Wooten – Special Agent in Charge | Milledgeville | 478-445-4173