Georgia police made a gruesome discovery in a Georgia storage unit that contained the bodies of two men who were reported missing by their families three months ago.
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Tucked inside the Extra Space Storage located in an Atlanta suburb, the bodies of Joshua Jackson and Derrick Ruff were found by Athens-Clarke County investigators.
The men were reportedly shot to death.
Jackson’s dad she he prepared himself for bad news after his son missed his daughter’s birthday, 11Alive reported.
“He wouldn’t stay away from his child. He missed her birthday – all that stuff started adding up, with not a word from him? That’s not Josh,” Jackson’s dad Gerald explained. “He was really crazy about her. He meant everything to the family.”
On Tuesday, Corporal Michele Pihera with the Gwinnett County Police Department said evidence points to the men being assassinated inside of the storage units. Pihera believes their deaths are linked to gang activity.
“We believe this is associated with the Gangster Disciples … and the motive (for their deaths) was part gang activity,” said Capt. Jerry Saulters with Athens-Clarke County Police. “There is an active investigation going on with active parties that could be responsible.”
Two suspects who have been arrested in connection with the murders and have been charged with concealing the death of another, the outlet reports. Robert Carlisle is on the run and Lesley Green is in custody.
Police will likely upgrade those charges to murder, Pihera said.
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Police called the owners of the storage units who cooperated with police to uncover the bodies, but they are not connected to the murders, Pihera said.
“Their families love them very much. This is surprising to them,” Saulters said. “The two were very close friends. Family and friends described them as, ‘if you saw one, you’ve seen the other.’ The victims were very, very close.”