Mom of Ga. Woman Got Texts that Did 'Not Sound Like Her Daughter.' She Was Found Dead in Lot Days Later

Shekema Toran, 36, was last seen in Augusta, Ga., on July 31 and was found dead in Decatur, Ga., four days later, authorities say

Authorities in Georgia are investigating the death of a missing woman as a homicide.

Shekema Toran, 36, was last seen in Augusta, Ga., on July 31, according to a missing person’s poster previously shared by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said she was believed to be traveling to the Atlanta, Ga., area in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW-1158 driven by Barritz Martin. Authorities did not specify the relationship between Toran and Martin.

Four days later, on Aug. 4, a dead body later identified as Toran was found about 140 miles west in Decatur, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, a public information officer with the DeKalb Police Department confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, Aug. 9.

According to WRDW, police said they found the dead woman inside a car parked in the lot of a Kroger grocery store. The circumstances surrounding Toran’s death were not immediately clear.

Toran’s mother said in a statement obtained by WRDW that after her daughter vanished, she received odd text messages that “do not sound like her daughter.”

Police said the case is being investigated by its Homicide Assault Unit.

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“A suspect has been identified and warrants have been secured but we are not able to release the names at this time,” the officer said in the statement.

A GoFundMe campaign created by loved ones to help offset Toran’s funeral costs states she was a mother to three young children.

“Shekema was deeply loved by her family and friends and made an impact on this community,” the fundraiser reads.

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