Coroner identifies two found deceased during welfare check

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The Houston County Coroner’s Office has identified the names of two elderly women found dead during a welfare check on Thursday afternoon.

According to Houston County Coroner James Williams, the women were identified as 78-year-old Elsie Coates and 60-year-old Annette Coates of Warner Robins. Williams said the two women lived together and were a mother and daughter.

The cause and manner of death is currently pending an autopsy completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations crime lab.

According to the Warner Robins Police Department (WRPD), around 3 p.m. on June 16, WPRD was dispatched a home on the 300 block of Orchard Way in response to a welfare check by concerned family members. Officers forced their way into the home and discovered two elderly female residents deceased.

The police department does not believe foul play is involved.

Both the coroner and the police department wanted to remind the public to check on family members, especially during the summer months if they have not heard from them recently.

“Check on family members, elderly people that are by themselves…with the temperatures getting up to where they are, the extreme temperatures add more of a risk, especially for elderly people or people with health conditions,” Williams said.

At time of publication, this case is currently under investigation.

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