Two arrested in connection with discovery of Cedartown woman’s remains

PRESS RELEASE

On Monday April 18, 2016, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Agents and Detectives from the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Randy Leon Pitman Jr., age 44, of Buchanan and Marie Southers, age 34, of Temple, for the murder of Natoshia Melissa Smith.

On August 31, 2015, the GBI was called to assist the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office upon the discovery of skeletal remains located behind an abandoned residence at 3118 Coppermine Road in Temple, Haralson County, Georgia. The remains were autopsied by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office and the cause of death was determined to be homicide.  The remains were subsequently identified through forensic means as Natoshia Melissa Smith of Cedartown, Georgia.

Pitman remains in the Carroll County Jail on unrelated charges and Southers remains in custody at the Haralson County Jail.