AP photo by Julie Dawes Bill and Lynne Stanford, parents of Benjamin Stanford, at a press conference in Villa Rica, Ga., on Tuesday prior to the discovery of their son's body.

Teen died from self-inflicted gunshot: coroner

From staff, AP reports

CARROLLTON, Ga. — An Alabama teenager reported missing last week and found dead in Georgia died from a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said Wednesday.

Carroll County Coroner Sammy Eady said the cause of death of Benjamin Stanford, 17, of Lincoln was "contact gunshot of the head."

The Carroll County sheriff's department said the investigation would continue.

"Although the autopsy has been completed, there's several other things that we need to do investigative-wise," Chief Deputy Brad Robinson said.

He said members of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office would meet with local, Alabama Bureau of Investigation Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel Thursday in Stanford's hometown.

Stanford was a senior at The Donoho School in Anniston and the grandson of Alabama state Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, who is a Moulton native and a graduate of Danville High School. Stanford's great uncles, Gene Preuitt and Eddie Preuitt, live in Hartselle.

Bill Stanford, a former Hartselle resident, and Lynne Stanford are the teen's parents.

"We want to make sure every question, hopefully, is answered," Robinson said.

The teenager’s body was found by volunteers who came from Alabama to search after he disappeared Nov. 5.

His silver Jeep Grand Cherokee was found near a Villa Rica exit on Interstate 20 that day, and the body was found Tuesday about 1,000 feet away.

Copyright 2005 THE DECATUR DAILY. All rights reserved.
AP contributed to this report.

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