Human remains found near Atlanta Police Academy linked to S.C. homicide; 3 arrested

Cecelia Elaine Knox (from left), Jana Lynn Knox, Jimmy Lee Knox

Credit: scnow.com

Credit: scnow.com

Cecelia Elaine Knox (from left), Jana Lynn Knox, Jimmy Lee Knox

Human remains discovered behind the Atlanta Police Training Academy have been linked to a South Carolina homicide, authorities said Tuesday.

The remains of Tara Echavarria, who was killed in April, were found earlier this week, according to SCNow.com. It's unclear how long the remains had been there.

In a statement, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer TaSheena Brown said the department assisted the Florence County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office with a homicide investigation that occurred in their jurisdiction.

“We assisted them with locating and collecting human remains found on property behind 180 Southside Industrial Parkway,” she said, referring additional questions about the investigation to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies there did not immediately return a phone call seeking information about the homicide or how the body ended up in a neighboring state behind the facility where Atlanta police recruits are trained.

Three people have been charged with Echavarria’s death, according to SCNow.com. Cecelia Elaine Knox, 31, of Florence, was charged with murder, while Jana Lynn Knox, 39, and Jimmy Lee Knox, 37, both of Hampton, were charged with accessory after the fact of murder and obstruction, the sheriff’s office told the news outlet.

The three remain in the Florence County Detention Center, according to jail records. Cecelia Knox and Jana Knox were both denied bond, while Jimmy Know remains in jail on a $260,000 bond.

In other news: