MACON, Ga. — The Rumplik family have been waiting for months to get Anthony Rumplik’s remains after his body was found decomposing in a chimney in Macon. His sister, Marlo Rumplik, said the family is frustrated.
"The whole thing is very very tragic," she said.
Marlo said the crime lab at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will not release his remains until he’s identified.
"It’s been over two months. You’ve been given dental records and yet you still don’t have him scientifically identified so therefore his remains will not be released," Marlo said.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said part of the delay to get Anthony's remains could be that the body is not at the GBI branch near East Macon, it's in Dekalb County.
“This happened in January so the Macon branch…GBI was closed due to the reconstruction so all the autopsy had to go to either Dekalb County or Pooler," Jones said.
Marlo said having to wait for identification is just adds another layer of frustration and confusion.
"Well maybe it’s not Anthony. Even though 99% likely it’s Anthony, but it’s not scientifically done so then you have your ‘Oh maybe it’s not’ false hope," Marlo said.
Jones said his office serves as the middleman in these scenarios. He said it’s so important to get the identification correct because he's seen one too many people be misidentified.
"There can be an error with all the technology we have, there can be an error - trust me I know that," Jones said.
"I’m a be the dog on the case until it’s done. They’re going to hear me bark," Marlo said.
Marlo said the family needs closure and Anthony’s friends want to have a celebration of life, but all of that depends on the GBI crime lab.
"Either paralyze me or kill me - their pick I suppose, because I’ve got no other options, right? We have no other options, we have to play by their game. The game is who can scientifically identify him and where’s that person?” Marlo questioned.
Jones said a few families in Macon are still waiting to hear what happened to their loved ones. One family has waited more than a year. He said his office is transparent throughout the process because they want to limit assumptions.