Body of missing Hardin County woman found in creek, Savannah man arrested
UPDATE, APRIL 20 — Hardin County Sheriff Johnny Alexander says Gregory Moore is now also charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
(See this week’s print edition for more on this situation.)
INITIAL STORY– An arrest has been made in connection with the finding of the body of a missing Hardin County woman Sunday evening in Porter Creek near Choate Creek Road, said Sheriff Johnny Alexander.
Maegan Gammill, 30, believed to have been last living in the Pickwick area, was discovered by a small group of people about 200 yards from the bridge on Choate Creek Road that crosses the creek in southeast Hardin County.
Alexander said Gregory Moore, 30, of Fairgrounds Street in Savannah, was arrested early Monday morning and charged with felony abuse of a corpse.
Alexander said the area where Gammill was found is a popular place for people to swim or just hang out and enjoy the outdoors.
He said the group of four or five noticed an object in the creek, and one of them walked out to investigate.
“He thought it looked like a body, so they called Central Dispatch” at 6:48 p.m. “to report it and a deputy was sent out who confirmed it was a body,” Alexander said.
The deputy notified Hardin County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mike Fielder, who went to the scene. Alexander and two HCSD investigators also went the scene shortly thereafter, and the decision was made to notify the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and request its assistance.
Alexander said Gammill was lying in shallow water in the creek, fully wrapped in a blanket that had the corners tied together to secure it around her.
Gammill was the subject of an intense investigation by HCSD and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office since she was reported missing early last week.
Alexander said Gammill reportedly left her father’s home on Friday, April 9, and was last seen the next day walking near Savannah Village Apartments and City Park. He said her destination at that time is unknown.
She was reported missing to the HCSD on Tuesday, April 13, Alexander said.
Moore was developed as a suspect involved in Gammill’s disappearance during the search for the missing woman.
“We’d been out talking to everybody we could that had any connection to her, and running down every lead. His name had come up a few times,” Alexander said, adding that his deputies had been looking for Moore to bring him in for an interview for several days.
The sheriff said because the incident is still under investigation, he could not go into further detail as to how Moore was developed as a suspect or to what extent he is suspected of being involved.
As of Monday afternoon, Moore has not been arraigned or had a bond set.
Gammill’s body has been sent to Memphis for autopsy.
Alexander said she was identified by a tattoo. A family member verified the identification using a photo.