Teen who vanished in 2019 is now identified as victim of fatal hit-and-run in Georgia
_fitted.png "Police identified the body of a boy they found in 2019 as Dywimas Marquis Autmas. The 15-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run in Georgia. The driver is now charged.")
In 2019, a Georgia mother hugged her 15-year-old son goodbye as he left to go live with family.
That was the last time she would see him — and for three years, no one knew what happened to him.
On Monday, April 4, the Clayton County Police Department announced that it identified the body of a boy found in 2019 as the teen who went missing: Dywimas Marquis Autman.
On the morning of March 4, 2019, authorities said an unidentified male was walking in the area of Mockingbird Trail in Riverdale, a city about 13 miles south of Atlanta, when he was hit and killed by a vehicle, according to a Jan. 18 news release from the police department.
At the time, officials had shared a description of the male who they estimated was between the ages of 16 and 25.
Investigators had been trying to learn his identity using a forensic artist rendering, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
But for years, no one came forward with his identity.
Investigators were able to solve the case thanks to a small detail shared in the missing persons poster — a tattoo of the word “Ace” located on Autman’s left forearm.
Police finally got a lead after a citizen recognized the tattoos, according to the NCMEC.
On Feb. 14, a GBI forensic odontologist identified the remains as Autman, according to police.
After investigation, Jermara Little was charged with hit-and-run and first-degree vehicular homicide, authorities said.
“The last time I saw Dywimas, we were at my mama’s house. He was going to live in Georgia with family. He gave me a big hug and a smile and told me he loved me. That was the last I saw him. We hadn’t heard from him in three years. We just wanted to know where he was. It is a big loss, a real big loss,” said Shandra Autman, Dywimas’ mother.
“Dywimas’ family is heartbroken but grateful to finally have answers,” the NCMEC said in a news release.
Dywimas’ mother told NCMEC that she remembers her son for his bright personality. She said he loved to sing and dance and was a very smart kid.
“He was a character and made everyone laugh,” the mother said.
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Teen who vanished in 2019 is now identified as victim of fatal hit-and-run in Georgia."
