A 27-year-old mother of three from Georgia has been officially declared dead, more than two years after she disappeared while hiking.
Olivia Samantha Fowler was last seen on August 13, 2021, dressed in a tie-dye shirt, shorts, and flip-flops as she walked along Pebblebrook Road in Meriwether County.
Her family reported her missing the following day, leading to an extensive search that concluded in December with the discovery of human remains in a rural area.
DNA analysis definitively linked these remains to Fowler, resulting in her family being informed of her death on Monday. Meriwether Sheriff Chuck Smith said that despite this outcome, the investigation continues with significant evidence yet to be analyzed. He abstained from revealing details about how Fowler died. Relatives said that she disappeared after seeing a man she was dating.
The case has transitioned from a missing person inquiry to a comprehensive death investigation. The FBI joined the efforts in May 2022 and a substantial lead led to the discovery of her remains. Working alongside the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit, authorities meticulously recovered and examined the body.
The confirmation of Fowler’s identity was established through DNA testing at the FBI Crime Lab.
Fowler, recognized not only as a mother but also as a daughter, sister, grandchild, and cherished member of the Fowler family, is fondly remembered by her relatives.
Fowler’s aunt began a search effort known as ‘Olivia’s Army,’ and her family raised funds for a private investigator through car washes and fundraisers.
