Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS -- A corrections work detail recently found a well-decomposed body on the side of Interstate 85 -- now Gwinnett police are trying to figure out who hit the victim with their car.

Gwinnett County police spokesman Cpl. Edwin Ritter said Thursday that, on Jan. 23, the work detail was cleaning debris off Dawson Blvd., which runs parallel to I-85 between Pleasantdale Road and Jimmy Carter Blvd. in Norcross. Members of the crew discovered the body of 24-year-old Leviticus D. Charleston of Stone Mountain tucked "next to a concrete barrier near a small ravine" that could not be seen from the interstate.

Due to the decomposition and location of the body, investigators now believe Charleston was killed almost two weeks prior.

At about 10 p.m. on Jan. 11, Gwinnett police received several calls reporting a "male walking northboound on Interstate 85 along the center concrete median and walking into traffic" between Pleasantdale Road and Jimmy Carter Blvd., Ritter said. Another caller said the pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle in the same area.

Police and fire officials responded to the area, but never found a body.

"Based on the clothing and physical description along with decomposition," Ritter said, "investigators believe that Mr. Charleston died on scene from the injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle on Jan. 11."

Now authorities are trying to find who hit him.

Detectives have spoken with witnesses from the incident, but are looking for anyone else who may be able to provide any information regarding the driver and vehicle believed to have taken Charleston's life. Those with information are asked to call Investigator T.P. Corradino at 678-442-5624.