A friend of 21-year-old Michael Edwin Haegele of Mauk, Ga., in Marion County has helped the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identify the man's body, which was found Friday on a rural Macon County road, authorities said today.
The friend contacted the GBI Wednesday after seeing reports that an autopsy revealed surgical implants in the dead man's right leg.
The friend said he had not heard from Haegele since May 1, and that he knew Haegele had leg implants. The GBI crime lab identified Haegele from latent prints lifted from the mobile home where he had lived.
Haegele had lived in Mauk about a year. He had lived in the St. Louis, Mo., area, where he graduated from high school.
A passing school bus driver with passengers saw Haegeles body Friday at 5:50 p.m. along Butlers Mill Road near the Macon-Taylor County line.
His death has been ruled a homicide. Anyone with information on Haegele is asked to call the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS.
