Remains Found In Georgia Woods Believed to be James "Booney" Wade

September 18, 2008

Longtime readers of this blog will recall the case of James Daniel "Booney" Wade, a 28-year-old resident of Rome, Georgia, who went missing on December 25, 2007.

For the last nine months, Booney's family has held on to a desperate hope that he might still be alive. Unfortunately, that hope was somewhat diminished today, following an announcement by local police that Booney's wallet was found this afternoon alongside human skeletal remains in Coosa, Georgia.

"We understand that a young man was looking for his dog, and he was walking back in the woods when he discovered the body," Maj. Tommy Shiflett with the Floyd County Police Department told the Rome News-Tribune. "We don't have a definite confirmation yet [that it is Wade], so we are now waiting on a positive identification . . . Right now, we're just in a wait-and-see mode."

It is too early for investigators to comment on a possible cause of death. The state crime lab is in possession of the remains, which are currently being investigated so that the lab can make a positive identification.

According to family members, James Daniel "Booney" Wade was last seen on Christmas night 2007.

"Booney had been really depressed around the holidays because he didn't have money to buy his family, especially his daughter, Christmas presents," Booney's cousin, Jessica Coots, said in a January 2008 interview with Investigation Discovery.

Jessica said Booney had been feeling depressed because he was desperate to visit his 11-year-old daughter in Alabama. When he was unable to find a ride there, he told a friend, identified only as "Buddy," that he would make it there on his own. Booney was last seen at his friend's Woods Road residence on Christmas night.

On December 31, 2007, Booney's relatives began to suspect something terrible had happened to him.  He never made it to Alabama, and he had not been in contact with any of his family members since Christmas, something Jessica said was completely out of character for him. Their worry escalated even further when they discovered Booney had not taken a change of clothes with him and had left his cell phone behind. After conferring with other family members, Booney's sister, Chassitty Hight, notified the Rome Police Department and filed a missing persons report.

Booney's now-defunct profile at MySpace.com had listed his last login date as December 24, 2007, the day before he went missing. In the "About Me" section of the profile, he had written the following:

"What up yall, my name is Booney Wade and I'm from Rome, GA. Right now I am in transition. I have a beautiful daughter that is 11-years-old named Alexis and she is my pride and joy above and before anything or anyone else. I am self-employed, and for the most part enjoy life. I have a universal personality so if you want to know more hit me up."

The photo section of the profile included several photos of Booney's daughter, one of which he entitled "my whole world in 1."

In a January interview with the Rome News-Tribune, Chassitty described her brother as having suffered from bouts of drug abuse in the past. However, she also described him as "good hearted" and "very emotional."

James Daniel "Booney" Wade is described as being 5'6" tall, weighing 150 pounds, and having shaved red hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a yellow jacket. Anyone with information about him is asked to contact police at (706) 238-5101.

Photo's Courtesy of Jessica Coots

Comments

[cb]

That's sad. It sounds like a suicide. At least if they can positively establish that it was him, the family can grieve and move on.

[Candace]

I'M THINKING HE TRIED TO HITCH HICK TO ALABAMA AND RAN INTO THE WRONG PERSON. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE WOULD KILL HIMSELF...HE LOVED HIS DAUGHTER TOO MUCH.

[tamincali]

I don't know.. I am not sure it would have been a suicide, when someone has so much love for his daughter..Sounded like he was depressed but determined to see his daughter, who he says was his world...
Doesn't that makes you wonder?

[Jim]

God Bless you James, your family, and friends during this difficult time and through the years ahead.

[haley]

i knew booney and im 100 percent sure it wasn't suicide..i believe there was foul play and i hope who ever did it or knows who did it and aren't saying anything gets exactly what they deserve

[a.m.s]

I have known Booney for several years and dont believe that he would do anything to himself especially knowing how devestated alexis would be. I hope that his family gets the closure that they deserve and that whomever is responsible gets the punishment that they deserve. God bless the family and know that wherever you are Booney you are deeply loved and missed!

[Bobbie]

I lived in rome and know Chassity...I just wanted to say that he was last seen at his grandparents home not a friends. I now live in florida and am keeping track of this.

[loretta]

Sympathies to the family and especially Alexis. Hope you find answers soon.

[Jessica]

Booney is my cousin and I would just like to say, thank you so much for all the kind words you all have written to our family during this rough time. Unlike other sites where people are writing horrible things, this one has gave me some happiness to feel on behalf of Booney in a long time!
Thank you and please continue to pray for my family

[Alyce Smith]

Booney did NOT kill himself. anyone who believes different can take it up with myself, his aunt dottie, or the police. he will be missed and will always be loved. We miss you Boon Boon and we won't forget you. I love you Booney. And you will always live in Alexis' heart.

[Velma]

I knew Boonie for about 2 years. and I know his mother Melinda very well. It was a shock and a shame to see such a nice kid die so young. I am trying to get a hold of Melinda to talk to her but she has moved back to Rome and I have lost touch with her.If anyone can help me with a phone number or e-mail address it would greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is davidaberg@live.com

[Sheri]

To the friends and family of "Booney". My sympathy's go out to each and every one of you. I know what it is like to lose someone close to you. It is hard enough when you 'know' what took them from you, but it is a whole different feeling when it is by "questionable" circumstances. I lost my father 6 months after graduating high school and me and my family know deep down in our hearts it was from foul play but we couldn't prove it.
"Booney" looks to me like he loved life and I can tell that his daughter was everything to him. Please give her a hug for me. God Bless!

[Mona huggins]

BOONEY WAS A GOOD FRIEND AND I CANT SEEN TO GET OVER HIM IT HURTS SO BAD I REALY LOVED HIM

[Mona huggins]

BOONEY WAS A GOOOD FRIEND

[j.s.h.]

Very sad and unfortunate, my sympathies as well. CB and candace, both of your theories on the matter are possible, but there are other scenarios that would fit all the same. (being just as possible) It's reported that he Didn't take any clothes with him other than what he was wearing, if true that is an oddity. Another commenter mentioned that he was Last reported seen at granparents house and not a friend..so ask them if he had clothing there he could have possibly taken. Unfortunately in many suicide scenarios,grieving individuals say similar things about the character of the individual who died by their own cause. If it wasnt a psychopathic homicidal predator who targeted a hitchhiker, (who apparently didnt have any clothing with him) Or a Suicide in which the individual wandered off into the woods with drugs (no indiction of ropes surrounding deceased)to commit suicide....then another scenario would be that of an Accidental overdose in which individuals present feared blame or persecution and hid the body to look make like a suicide. Those who knew him well- did he have a history of drug abuse? I anticipate to see if they can do any type of toxicology, and for a release of any other items aside from the wallet reported being found on or near the person. again...my sympathies.

[j.s.h.]

oh...ALso I'm curious as to how far away the body was found from the site the man was last seen. And did anyone have search parties looking for him at all? i dont recall any reports. (was it a place he was familiar with? or may have visited before?)