2 Missing Georgia Firefighters Found Dead in Tennessee

Two Georgia firefighters who late last month were dead hundreds of miles away in Tennessee, authorities said.

Raegan Anderson and Chandler Kuhbander were found in Cocke County Tennessee, along with Anderson’s vehicle, police in Hinesville, Georgia, said in a statement Sunday.

No additional details were released. Police directed questions to the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Two Liberty County, Georgia firefighters who had been missing for about a week were found dead in Tennessee on Sunday. (WSAV/Hinesville Police Department)

A representative from the sheriff’s office said Tuesday afternoon that the TBI is leading the investigation.

“TBI agents are working alongside the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of two people after their bodies were discovered inside a vehicle along Hollow Road in Cosby on Sunday morning,” the state agency said in a statement Tuesday.

The bodies have been sent for autopsies to be positively identified and to determine the causes and manners of death. The investigation continues, TBI said.

Liberty County Fire Chief Brian Darby said the department in Midway, Georgia, was deeply saddened by the news about two of its firefighters.

“These two extremely dedicated employees put their hearts and souls into protecting and serving the citizens of Liberty County,” Darby said in a statement. “Our prayers, and those of the department, are with the families during this most difficult time.”

A Liberty County fire representative declined to comment Tuesday afternoon.

Cocke County, Tennessee, is about 400 miles north of Midway, Georgia.

Last week, Hinesville police posted information on Facebook about the two missing firefighters. The post included a photo of Anderson’s vehicle, a black 2017 Ford Focus.

Anderson was last seen June 25 at Liberty County Fire Services Station #1. Authorities think Anderson may have been accompanied by Kuhbander, who had also been reported missing in Liberty County, NBC affiliate WBIR of Knoxville, Tennessee, reported.

Kuhbander’s vehicle was found in Savannah, Georgia, and Anderson’s vehicle was spotted in Richmond Hill, Georgia, before it was found in Tennessee, the station reported.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com