MACON, Ga. — It's been almost a week since construction workers found Gabby Dixon's body near a work site in Monroe County.
Darryl Searcy, Dixon's stepfather, says the family is glad Gabby has been found. He says Dixon was found almost a mile from the home where 19-year-old Jatavius Price was found.
Price is the cousin of Reginald Harris. That's the father of her children and the man now accused of killing her. Price has been accused of helping him. Searcy says investigators identified her by her hair and clothes. He says prosecutors told his family it would take time to prosecute Harris and Price.
"'The wheels of justice turn but they turn slow.' That's what the DAs said so it could take time and of course, they are going to try and fight the case. They have lawyers and whatnot," Searcy said.
Dixon's body was found in Monroe County near a construction site off Highway 87. He says if they had looked near there, maybe they would have found her sooner.
"Things happen but we're glad that she's been found and it's more relief that she's been found," Searcy said.
Searcy says the family didn't know who Price was until he was arrested. He says Dixon only knew Harris. He says Dixon knew Harris since she was 15 years old and Harris was always quiet and to himself.
Last year, one month before Dixon went missing, a warrant showed Harris choked her, pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her.
"Teenagers are going to be teenagers. So there's a lot of stuff that they keep away from us, we had no knowledge of. Had we known the situation might've been different," Searcy said.
Now, the family wants Macon District Attorney Anita Howard to collect the evidence and keep Harris and Price behind bars. While the family was told it could take time for the case to go to trial, they are grateful to those who never forgot about Dixon.
The family is planning a funeral service for Dixon on Aug. 10 at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.
Right now, Harris is charged with murder and Price is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Both are currently in jail.