GA - Heather McDonald, 27, found deceased, Cartersville, 19 Sept 2016 *arrest in 2023* #2

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Still no official COD, but the obituary says she "passed away suddenly." I don't want to infer, but would an OD be viewed of as suddenly? I wonder if the family has received confirmation of how she died, but can't release with the investigation ongoing.


Gardener1850 said:
So sad. I hope we find out before then her COD and if there has been any progress on charging a POI/suspect. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think this was an accidental death. And even if it was accidental overdose, she didn't walk to where she was found. :moo:

Her poor babies :(
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soanyway said:
Still no official COD, but the obituary says she "passed away suddenly." I don't want to infer, but would an OD be viewed of as suddenly? I wonder if the family has received confirmation of how she died, but can't release with the investigation ongoing.
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My stepfather's great-nephew passed away from an heroin overdose a few months ago and his obituary stated "passed away suddenly". But I've also seen it used for heart attacks, suicides, etc.
 
soanyway said:
Still no official COD, but the obituary says she "passed away suddenly." I don't want to infer, but would an OD be viewed of as suddenly? I wonder if the family has received confirmation of how she died, but can't release with the investigation ongoing.
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I wouldn't read too much into "passed away suddenly" in the obituary. IMO, all it means is that her death was unexpected. Sometimes obituaries say: "passed away after a long illness" or "passed away after a brief illness". In Heather's case, "passed away suddenly" is appropriate description of the circumstances because there was no indication she was sick or going to pass away anytime soon at the time she went missing. I've seen that phrase used for people who died in car accidents, drug overdose, sudden heart attack or even for someone who committed suicide. I don't think we can say it means drug overdose. JMO.
 
Thanks for the explanations! IMO, I was thinking it eluded to it NOT being an overdose. Maybe wishful thinking on my part, because it may have given us more answers and possibly more arrests.
 
How sad. Even with her body being found there seem to be as many unanswered questions as before.
 
Question to all you long time sleuths: Is it customary to list the date of death as the date one is recovered? HM was found on October 30th, which is the date of death listed. Wondering if it's because an exact date couldn't be determined during the autopsy or if they do believe she died on the 30th. We've talked about hunting season already have been in when she was found, so was she overlooked previously or put there the same day she was found?
 
I don't understand why her body is still being held at the crime lab by yet they have already planned a memorial for her next weekend
 
Sunshine72 said:
I don't understand why her body is still being held at the crime lab by yet they have already planned a memorial for her next weekend
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You do not have to have a body physically present for a memorial service.

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Sunshine72 said:
I don't understand why her body is still being held at the crime lab by yet they have already planned a memorial for her next weekend
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Imho...I would think if more testing is needed after the results come back...rather than exhumed her body or worse yet more testing needed and she was cremated.

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soanyway said:
Question to all you long time sleuths: Is it customary to list the date of death as the date one is recovered? HM was found on October 30th, which is the date of death listed. Wondering if it's because an exact date couldn't be determined during the autopsy or if they do believe she died on the 30th. We've talked about hunting season already have been in when she was found, so was she overlooked previously or put there the same day she was found?
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I've noticed it is common for the death record to have the date discovered as the date of death--usually just means the day that a medical examiner declared the person dead versus the actual date they expired. I'm not really sure what is normal for an obituary as my only "long-time sleuthing" involves genealogy, I've only been following missing persons crimes the last 6 months or so. Since following here, I've seen a few cases where people had been missing for YEARS and their remains are discovered and the date of death is put on the obit as the day they went missing. But I have also seen where the family used the date on the death certificate. I think when it comes to the Obituary (and even the gravestone) the family can do whatever they feel is most accurate/appropriate. Heather's family may be using Oct 30th because they believed her to be alive for sometime after going missing and they don't want to think she died earlier than that OR they may have used it simply because the ME has not told them the estimated date of death and the official date from the the death certificate is all they have. IDK. Again, I just don't think we can read too much into the obit. It sounds like the ME has not shared much, if anything, with the family. JMO.
 
Is there any new updates or leads in this case yet?? I hope just gets served to person responsible for her death
 
Is there any new updates or leads in this case yet?? I hope justice gets served to person responsible for her death
 
Just days after we left that motel in Cartersville, Georgia. Stefan gets the heartbreaking news that will forever change his life and the lives of those three little girls: Heather's body has been found.

Cartersville Police have yet to confirm how Heather died, saying only that she was found by hunters in a wooded area about 40 miles from her home.

And another shocking development: U.S. Marshals confirm Richard Dale Harden, a convicted child sex offender who spent two decades behind bars for enticing a minor, has been named an official person of interest in Heather's disappearance

What's the connection? It's being reported that Harden befriended Heather's parents at church and even did some handyman work for Heather and Stefan around their house.

The Cartersville Police Department, which is leading the investigation into Heather's disappearance, will not confirm or deny Harden is being held in connection with the case.

Heather's autopsy results are due back in a few weeks. Harden was being held on violation of the sex offender registry on no bond.

Reportedly police are waiting until a final cause of death is determined before moving forward with any additional charges.
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https://crimewatchdaily.com/2016/11...rs-turns-up-dead-in-mysterious-circumstances/


Sounds like they are zooming in on a pretty likely perp to me. It would be one hell of a coincidence if he wasn't involved in some way.

Located 40 miles out in the woods ? She didn't walk there by herself,
 
But why hasn't RH been charged? Seems like he would've already been released if it was just a sex offender registry violation. But then there were probably additional charges when he was arrested and armed (threatening LE??) IMO, there are others involved and many that know who they are but aren't speaking.


steelman said:
https://crimewatchdaily.com/2016/11...rs-turns-up-dead-in-mysterious-circumstances/


Sounds like they are zooming in on a pretty likely perp to me. It would be one hell of a coincidence if he wasn't involved in some way.

Located 40 miles out in the woods ? She didn't walk there by herself,
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soanyway said:
But why hasn't RH been charged? Seems like he would've already been released if it was just a sex offender registry violation. But then there were probably additional charges when he was arrested and armed (threatening LE??) IMO, there are others involved and many that know who they are but aren't speaking.
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In my County, I know that they sometimes hold Parole/Probation Violators for an absurd amount of time. They call it a PO hold-- they can be waiting on a violation hearing, waiting on a rehab bed (probably doesn't apply here), or just a tough PO holding them because they can. But I think you're right, the confrontation with the arresting LEO'S could have something to do with RH being held so long.

There's a chance that RH had little to do with Heather's disappearance. At least that's what I'm leaning towards.


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It's been a while since we've heard anything about this case.

RH is still sitting in county jail (almost 3 months now) and his notes say "Bond approval by 900 only" whatever that means. It also indicates that he is currently serving a sentence (probation violation maybe?). This doesn't rule out pending charges necessarily, but I just find it strange that we haven't heard anything in a long time. Starting to wonder if RH is still a person of interest.

Hope this doesn't go cold.


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