Missing CDC Epidemiologist Found In the Chattahoochee River
Death Likely From
Drowning, According To Police
The body of CDC epidemiologist Tim Cunningham
was found in early April in a river near his home. Cunningham had been
missing for several weeks and his body was found in an inaccessible
area of the Chattahoochee River about four miles from his home.
Autopsy reports describe drowning as the most likely cause of death
with no signs of trauma or evidence of underlying medical conditions.
Open Questions
According to police, the Cunningham case is not closed.
There are multiple unanswered questions surrounding his disappearance.
First, how did Cunningham end up in the river and where
did he enter the river?
Second, was Cunningham’s drowning an accident or was it
an intentional act by him or others?
Friends report that Cunningham was upset that he did
not get selected for a higher level position, although he had received
a promotion earlier in 2017. There was confusion about this in the
media because CDC said he did receive a promotion last year but it did
not clarify the more recent event in which he was passed over for a
higher level job in the agency.
Third, did Cunningham leave his home with the intention
of returning or not? Many of his possessions, including keys, were
found in his home undisturbed.
According to some media reports, it is possible we will
never learn the answers to these questions. Police report that there
is no evidence of foul play.
A $15,000 reward is being offered to help solve the case.
A celebration of Cunningham’s life was held at Morehouse on
Saturday April 21, 2018. Also, many memories and condolences have been
expressed online. Readers may access these at:
https://tinyurl.com/yb3c5yx3 ■
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