One of the Yahoo groups says that law enforcement has found the body of Mr Helling, who went missing while railfanning around Lawrenceville GA on Dec. 9th, in St Clair county Alabama. There is evidence that his credit cards were used around the state of Alabama. I have not seen this in any of the “mainstream media” outlets. Does anybody else have any more details?
George
| Snellville man found dead in Alabama 01/17/2007 - By Jim Brock Staff Writer Gwinnett Daily Post jim.brock@gwinnettdailypost.com LAWRENCEVILLE - What was once a missing person investigation into the disappearance of a 61-year-old Snellville man is now a homicide investigation. The body of Barry Alan Helling, who was last seen Dec. 9 at his home, was found in a field about 30 miles east of Birmingham, Ala., said St. Clair (Ala.) County Sheriff Terry Surles. Fishermen on Jan. 3 found the body about 100 yards from Interstate 20 near the Riverdale exit, Surles said. The body was found with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head, and authorities used dental records to make a positive identification, Surles said. The autopsy indicated that Helling had been dead for at least a few days before his body was found, Surles said. As of Tuesday, there were no reports of suspects in custody. In a previous report, Gwinnett County police spokesman Cpl. Darren Moloney said two unidentified men believed to be connected with Helling’s disappearance were caught on a security camera using his charge card, one at the Sports Authority in Duluth and another at a Wal-Mart store in Villa Rica. Both were described as white men in their 50s. Authorities also tracked other transactions in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, according to reports from Gwinnett police and the St. Clair Sheriff’s Department. Lawrence Little, Helling’s partner of 29 years, previously said Helling was going to "watch the trains&q |
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[censored], this is terrible.
This is so saddening and at the same time a hard reminder for us to always be careful and alert when out railfanning.
During my younger “shutterbug” years I would sometimes go railfanning in places where mainline tracks ran through secluded areas in eastern Hillsborough County with few or no people around. I liked this area because trains blasted by at 60 to 79 mph. Until the train(s) approached and passed by, there was peace and quiet. Even then I would sometimes think that if something happened to me, it would have been a long time before I was found.
I do 90% of my fanning in public areas. I rarely go to secluded areas anymore, only because in past years, some of my favorite places which were quiet, and safe, are now not so safe anymore.
This is a hard reminder. One must always to keep an eye about them, and take note of any people moving through the area near them. I never had a problem with people when I have been out, but on one or two occasions there have been people that have given me “bad vibes” as it were, so, I pay attention to that… But, really being out alone, one must remain as vigilant as possible.
My condolences to Mr Helling’s family.
My condolences to the family as well. It’s a sad day for all of us.
Does anybody know if he was actually train watching?
Wow! What a reality check. We don’t usually think of something like this happening to one of us…it’s a horrible thing no matter what! But unfortunately there is stuff like this happening all around and it’s a terrible statement of the world we live in. I try to stay in safer areas whether I’m railfanning or just doing whatever,but you never know sometimes. It just reminds of our top local news story this morning where a guy was shot by two thugs for making the mistake of just walking down the street minding his own business. Terrible.[:(]
Sounds like there is more to this story…Possible assailants are in their 50’s and it was a single shot to the back of the head, doesn’t sound like a chance meeting.
Opinion only…
Got a feeling they had watched him for a while, knew his habits and where/when he was alone…which leads one to wonder if he might have known them…single shot to the back of the head means he either trusted them enough to turn his back on them, or they had him subdued and then shot him.
The article leaves out enough info to make anything else just guesses.
Still, a sober warning to fans, dont go alone, dont go where no one can see you, do tell others where you are going and when you will be back, and stick to your return time.
If you cant tell anyone when and where you will be due to their absence, then don’t go.
Remember, this is a hobby, and not worth getting hurt over.
They cant give out too many details w/out jepardizing their case… Danny
I always go to a very public place. The spot I go to most of the time is right across the street from the PD. That still does not mean I am 100% safe. You just have to always watch your back, or have someone else watch your back.
Yes but it appears that nobody knows for sure, sure if they shot him while he was train watching or he was stopped somewhere else before he got to watch the trains & did the dirty job there.
In our area, it seems that most of the vagrants “camp” out along railroad right-of-ways. These folks are anti-social at best, and some have very few marbles. Imagine you standing there, camera outfit and scanner, maybe out of state plates, probablly well fed like me. It would be like setting Thanksgiving dinner in front of the Big Bad Wolf.
Yep…[(-D]