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Florida man found dead off Turner Lake Road in Covington
Investigators say no evidence of trauma, foul play
police-blue-lights-WEB
Staff Reports
Updated: Nov 13, 2020, 4:44 PM
Published: Nov 12, 2020, 8:07 PM

COVINGTON, Ga. — A Florida man was found dead Wednesday morning off of Turner Lake Road in Covington, Covington Police Captain Ken Malcom said.

Malcom said officers located Carlos Arroda, 59, of Springhill, Florida, in the wooded area behind K-Mart/Ingles while responding to a call made about a cardiac arrest. 

Arroda’s body was found under a “makeshift tent,” Malcom said, and it appeared the man had died “days earlier."

Malcom said Arroda was initially discovered by another person living in the same area. The person told authorities Arroda had been terminally ill.

Upon an investigation by Deputy Coroner Steve Jones and Covington police detectives, Malcom said no evidence of trauma or foul play had been found.

The Newton County Coroner’s Office transported the body to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab for an autopsy.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB
Kate Verity
Published: Apr 4, 2025, 10:29 PM

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.