A body found in a Georgia river has been identified as a missing CDC researcher.
Dr. Timothy Cunningham, a 35-year-old epidemiologist at the CDC in Chamblee, Georgia went home early on Feb. 12 after telling his supervisor he was feeling under the weather.
Family members expressed surprise over the disappearance, saying Cunningham was happy with his job and life.
“I think it’s pretty consistent that he was definitely upset, he told several coworkers that he was and he was expecting this promotion,” said Atlanta Police Major Michael O’Connor. “He tells the supervisor he’s not feeling well, he had actually called in sick the two previous work days.”
O'Connor said it was unusual to find all of his belongings at his house.
“The most unusual factor, in this case, is that every single belonging that we are aware of was located in the residence so his keys, cell phone, debit cards, credit card, wallet,” said O’Connor. “We’ve gotten with the CDC and gone through making sure his government credit cards aren’t being used, we’ve looked at the browser history at the desktop computer at work to make sure there’s nothing suspicious on it, we’ve checked his swipe card activity.”
Officers said Cunningham had tried calling his mother on Feb. 12 but she missed the call and he didn’t leave a voicemail.
Cunningham worked in the chronic disease unit at the CDC, where he won multiple awards including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2017.
Officers said they'd received no indication that his work at the agency had any connection with his disappearance.
