On Sept. 14, Long County Probate Court Judge Marie Middleton denied a petition by Jeffrey Moody to presume that his wife, Debora Gail DeLoach Moody is dead.
According to Middleton’s ruling, she denied the request because the testimony of the witnesses did not show the court that a diligent search had been conducted in the surrounding states, particularly the states where Moody’s mother and brother live.
Middleton said, “All law enforcement agencies still have this case listed as a missing persons and searches are still being conducted through television and fliers.”
Moody’s mother, Melanie Clark, who lives in Florida, was happy with the ruling.
“I’m ecstatic, walking on cloud nine, and so is Christian (Moody’s son). Something finally has gone our way.”
She added, “This means that there is
still hope that she is still alive. People were thinking that the court had already ruled her dead, and now
everyone knows that that isn’t the case and people can still keep looking for her.”
Moody was last seen on Dec. 4, 2007, in Walthourville, where she bought a dog pen. Since the Long County woman’s disappearance, there has been an ongoing investigation by the Long County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to locate her.
GBI Special Agent in Charge Mike McDaniel said, “This is still an active investigation, and we still need the public’s help
with this disappearance. If anyone knows anything, we are urging them to contact us.”
Clark said she and her family are still passing out fliers with Moody’s picture, and recently canvassed the county with fliers written in Spanish, to get the message out to the Spanish-speaking population.
There is still a $5,000 reward for information leading to Moody’s whereabouts.
“I’m sure somebody out there knows something,” Clark said. “Please, if you do, come forward and let us know.”
If anyone has information, call the GBI at (912) 729-6198 or call Long County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Ty Smith at 545-2118. All tips will be confidential.
According to Middleton’s ruling, she denied the request because the testimony of the witnesses did not show the court that a diligent search had been conducted in the surrounding states, particularly the states where Moody’s mother and brother live.
Middleton said, “All law enforcement agencies still have this case listed as a missing persons and searches are still being conducted through television and fliers.”
Moody’s mother, Melanie Clark, who lives in Florida, was happy with the ruling.
“I’m ecstatic, walking on cloud nine, and so is Christian (Moody’s son). Something finally has gone our way.”
She added, “This means that there is
still hope that she is still alive. People were thinking that the court had already ruled her dead, and now
everyone knows that that isn’t the case and people can still keep looking for her.”
Moody was last seen on Dec. 4, 2007, in Walthourville, where she bought a dog pen. Since the Long County woman’s disappearance, there has been an ongoing investigation by the Long County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to locate her.
GBI Special Agent in Charge Mike McDaniel said, “This is still an active investigation, and we still need the public’s help
with this disappearance. If anyone knows anything, we are urging them to contact us.”
Clark said she and her family are still passing out fliers with Moody’s picture, and recently canvassed the county with fliers written in Spanish, to get the message out to the Spanish-speaking population.
There is still a $5,000 reward for information leading to Moody’s whereabouts.
“I’m sure somebody out there knows something,” Clark said. “Please, if you do, come forward and let us know.”
If anyone has information, call the GBI at (912) 729-6198 or call Long County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Ty Smith at 545-2118. All tips will be confidential.