Woman cyclist missing on Silver Comet Trail

[cherinyc]

As of 4:15PM EDT

SMYRNA, Ga. (AP) -- Officials in Paulding County found a woman's body Wednesday along the Silver Comet Trail, and a Smyrna Police Department spokesman said the body was believed to be that of a missing 54-year-old woman.

Jennifer Ewing of Sandy Springs had gone riding on the trail on Tuesday, but failed to return home.

"What we believe to be the body of Jennifer Ewing" has been found in Paulding County, Smyrna spokesman Sgt. Robert Harvey said. "The body has not been positively identified by the GBI."

Harvey said he believed Ewing's bicycle was also found, but said he had few details of the discovery somewhere in Paulding County.

[mimitabby]

uh oh. if they aren't saying "this was an accident" that probably means foul play was involved?

[WrensMom]

Oh my gosh, I just feel so awful for her and for her family

[redhot3368]

oh my goodness...that is just soo sad.

[Bikingmomof3]

Such terrible news. I had prayed she would have been found alive.

[Pedal Wench]

GBI is treating this as a criminal investigation, and my friend who works along with them has implied that it was intentional. I'll keep y'all posted. This is really shaking the local cycling community here. We're a pretty small bunch, and this is being felt deeply. I'm just so sad. I'm a member of a women's cycling club, and I can't help but wonder if this could have been prevented if she had been a member and could have found someone to ride with. However, I also hate that we need to group up to do somehting that should be able to be enjoyed alone. I loved going out there, putting my head down and putting in my own miles, at my own pace, for my own distance. I'm so upset by this. I really used the trail alot, particularly in winter when no one else liked to ride.

[skibum]

I'm with you on all of this PW. I usually ride with a group but sometimes I have my own schedule, my own goals, or just a desire for some solitude and will ride alone. Right now, I'm not sure that's such a good idea and, like you, I hate that I feel like I have to ride with someone else just to feel safe. I was planning to do a solo ride this Sunday (not on the Silver Comet). Until today, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. Now, I wonder if I should change my plans.

It's incredibly sad and I feel so bad for her family.

[spokewench]

That is absolutely horrible. I cry every time I hear stories like this one. Would the people who are obviously close enough to get news keep us in the loop?

I ride by myself frequently, always have and always will, but I know freak things can happen. I try to keep it in my mind that these are random acts and hope that my time is not up.

SO sad to hear this

[chickwhorips]

this is really sad. my heart and thoughts go out to family and friends.

[Lise]

This is such sad news. My heart goes out to her family, and all in the cycling community there.

It also reinforces the importance of wearing ID. I don't know if they truly couldn't identify her, or were holding off until the family had been informed. But how horrible to be unidentifyable.

So sorry for all.

[pooks]

What a tragedy. And it is scary. I've been tempted to go on a bike trail near me one of these days but it does have a lot of areas that with trees and dense foliage -- you can hear the traffic which runs adjacent to the trail but can't see it. And even though I used to walk it with my dog, the idea of going there these days leaves me a bit uneasy.

I think I need to follow my gut, at least until I can talk to people more familiar with the trail.

Please keep us posted about that poor woman and her family.

Maybe it will still end up being natural causes....

[skibum]

Maybe it will still end up being natural causes....

I wish that were the case... the evening news confirmed that she was killed:

"Police say they believe that Ewing was murdered -- and that her body showed signs of trauma. Officials say they first found her shorts around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning before finding her partially clothed body.

Officials say they believe it was a random murder and that they do have several leads."

For those who are interested in following the story, it has been on the front page of all our local news websites. Here's the links I've been checking:
http://www.wsbtv.com
http://www.ajc.com

I don't know if they truly couldn't identify her, or were holding off until the family had been informed.

Lise, I don't know if she had ID or not but I get the impression that they new who she was, they were just following official police procedure by not declaring it to be her until she had been positively identified and the family notified.

Such tragedy, I can't even begin to imagine what her family is going through.

[Cindyloo]

I absolutely feel sick about it. The cycling community is reeling and it is not fair that women can not ride bikes alone without worrying about being prey for some sick f*ck . Sorry but I am going through the "anger" phase right now. I don't know why this is affecting me so much today.

I thought that when they found the bike that maybe it was an accident, but now they are saying that the bike was found "somewhere in Paulding County" meaning not necessarily with her body. Also the latest I read said her shorts were found first and then her partially clothed body was found later. This isn't intended to upset you guys further but I just wanted to provide the details. The article did say that the police are following leads.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9576152/detail.html

[Aggie_Ama]

This is sick. A few years ago in a very sleepy community near here a college girl running went missing. She was in a quiet suburban neighborhood in broad daylight. I love to go running by myself, but I hate having to watch over my shoulder. One time I had to turn and go home because there was a shady looking man just sitting in his car watching the trail. I hate these random acts by sick individuals that put us women in fear.

[Brandy]

This is such a sad story and it DOES suck that we have to worry about riding alone. It definitely makes me think twice about riding trails. While I generally feel safer since there is no traffic, I hadn't thought about how isolating it can be. I'm lucky to have a partner to cycle with, but when we can't ride together, I'll be sticking to the roads, where it's more populated.