Dead body discovered in Weiss Lake; vet shot

STAFF REPORTS

CENTRE — The Cherokee County area was marred by separate, unrelated tragedies April 24. The body of a man was discovered in Weiss Lake that morning, and about 12 hours later a local veterinarian was attacked and shot multiple times, his office burned to the ground.

As of press time Friday afternoon, the body found floating near the state docks along the Centre-Cedar Bluff causeway had not been identified, according to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver.

Sheriff's Department Investigator Mark Hicks released information about the body Thursday afternoon, stating that it appeared to be "that of either a white or Hispanic male."

“The body was a male, short in stature,” Shaver told The Post Thursday afternoon. “He was found this morning by a woman who had pulled in to fish from the pier at the dock.”

Shaver said there is little additional information to report. He said forensics experts removed the body and sent it to Huntsville for further analysis.

The body, naked except for socks, was found around 8:45 a.m. Surrounding county law enforcement offices were contacted to determine if any missing persons fit the description of the deceased.

Cedar Bluff Police officer J.P. Curry referred questions to Sheriff's Department Investigator Mark Hicks, but did confirm that early Birmingham TV station reports of the body being headless are inaccurate.

“The body was intact,” Curry told The Post.

On Friday, Hicks told The Post the Sheriff's Department has sent teletypes across the Southeast seeking information about any missing person who fits the description of the deceased.

"He was 5 feet tall, 102 lbs., of either Asian or Hispanic ancestry, with brown hair with a little gray, probably aged between mid-40s up to about 60," Hicks told The Post.

Around 8 p.m. Thursday, local veterinarian Dr. Jerry Handley, who owns the Handley Animal Clinic on Highway 411 in Etowah County, was attacked and shot in an apparent robbery attempt.

Handley was shot at least twice by an unknown assailant and then called his wife for assistance, according to law enforcement officials. She called 911 at 8:42 p.m.
The suspects apparently set fire to the clinic before fleeing the scene.

Officials said two suspects ran from the back of the building and into nearby woods after the attack. They also said all the animals in the clinic, except one parrot, were likely killed in the fire.

Dr. Handley was taken by helicopter to a Birmingham hospital. Early reports indicated that he is expected to recover from his wounds.