Man found deceased at the old Wolf Creek BBQ

PRESS RELEASE – On November 13, 2023 at approximately 1150 pm, Officers with the Cornelia Police Department noticed a white Dodge Ram pickup truck parked behind 727 N. Main Street, the old Wolf Creek BBQ.

Because the business has been closed for a few years, officers felt that someone could be attempting to steal items from the area of Mountain Automotive.

Officers started walking the area and didn’t find anything that seemed to be disturbed. Prior knowledge of the area led officers to a location where a homeless gentleman, James Roy Cantrell, age 72, has been known to sleep at from time to time.

Officers located Cantrell and attempted to speak with him to see if he had seen any suspicious activity.

As officers tried to communicate with Cantrell, they noticed he was not responding and appeared to not be breathing.

Officers attempted to wake Cantrell and discovered that he was in fact deceased.

Officers contacted Cornelia Fire Station 2. EMS, the Criminal Investigative Division and the Habersham County Coroner’s Office.

The Criminal Investigations Division is looking into the matter, but at this time there is no evidence to believe foul play was the reason for death.

Family has been notified and there is no further information to release at this time.