Suwannee Valley Unsolved
Contributor
After 31 years, the case surrounding the mysterious death of Live Oak businessman Daniel “Danny” Burton McCrimon has concluded.
McCrimon, who was 54-year-old at the time, had disappeared after leaving his home in June of 1993. His remains were recovered in a joint search conducted by multiple agencies in November of that year in a wooded, swampy area off U.S. Highway 129 in Lanier County, Ga., just south of Lakeland, Ga.
The case was closed after the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and Suwannee Valley Unsolved, Inc. (SVU) inquired about the case with the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), which relayed that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had authority over the investigation. In May of 2024, following discussions with the GBI, it was learned that the case concluded in 1998.
Based on the information received by SVU and SCSO, it was discovered that a family member provided GBI investigators with key evidence that helped bring the case to a close in the original investigation. Investigators concluded that foul play was not determined based on the information received.
However, GBI did not communicate the closure of the case. Though the agency had jurisdiction over the case, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) also maintained a case regarding McCrimon’s death. It is unclear whether the agency was aware of the case closure. Over the years, the mystery surrounding the case fueled speculation about what happened to the successful businessman, resulting in rumors about his fate. However, according to information obtained by SVU and SCSO, the rumors were only that.
“The information that was provided in the file contained enough relevant information that it was safe to conclude that this was not a homicide,” said Jason Futch, Executive Director of SVU. “This case concluded, and rightfully so, in 1998. It’s just unfortunate that our community did not get this information until just recently.”
Due to the sensitive nature of the case and details regarding the events leading up to McCrimon’s death, as well as respect for the family’s privacy, SVU chose not to disclose the information publicly but has encouraged curious individuals to file a public records request through the GBI Public Records portal.
The case began as a missing persons report filed by SCSO in June of 1993, when McCrimon told his wife that he was going to pick up a newspaper and run some errands on June 13. Ten days later, she filed a missing person’s report. Investigators with SCSO at the time established that interviews had been done with multiple individuals, and flight records and purchases had been reviewed. However, the tips dried up fast.
In August of that year, a GBI plane searching for illegal marijuana growers in the forestry surrounding Lowndes and Lanier Counties located a GMC Yukon, which kicked back to McCrimon. According to statements at the time, the Yukon had just over 9,000 miles, and the exterior of the vehicle had been severely scratched. Several items, including a loafer and an unfired handgun, were located.
Following the discovery, a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of the SCSO, FDLE, Lanier County Sheriff’s Office and GBI combed through the forestry and swampy area, attempting to locate the missing businessman. On Nov. 12, 1993, McCrimon’s skeletal remains were located not far from where his vehicle was located.
McCrimon’s remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Atlanta, which could not determine a cause of death, according to several newspaper reports at the time. However, it had been noted that there had been damage to some of his bones, which led to a statement made by an FDLE agent that it was believed that McCrimon was the victim of a homicide. The agent specified that a medium-caliber weapon had been the cause of McCrimon’s death.
Between 1993 and 1998, hundreds of people were interviewed about McCrimon’s death; however, the leads did not result in anything significant for the investigation.
According to Futch, a close family member came before a GBI agent around the spring of 1998, allegedly presenting evidence that McCrimon’s death was not suspicious. After following up and communicating the information with FDLE, GBI was satisfied with the results and closed the case.
After reviewing the case and ensuring that no stone was unturned upon receiving the information last year, SCSO was satisfied with the investigation GBI performed and effectively concluded its investigation.
SVU thanked Special Agent in Charge Jason Seacrist and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jessica Hamilton for providing the information to SVU and SCSO. The organization also thanked retired SCSO Investigator Chuck Tompkins and Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton for being part of the efforts to help conclude the McCrimon case, as well as the investigators from multiple jurisdictions who worked on the case tirelessly through the years.