Summerville, Georgia — A woman known for scavenging through dumpsters in Chattooga County was tragically crushed and buried under tons of garbage after being unknowingly collected with the trash. The horrifying incident unfolded behind a Family Dollar store on Commerce Street, where she was last seen searching through waste containers she often visited.
Authorities say the woman, identified as Kimberley Lindsey, had developed a habit of climbing into dumpsters to look for discarded items she could reuse or sell. Her family was aware of her dangerous routine and had long feared something tragic might happen. Those fears became reality when she went missing Friday morning, prompting relatives to search for her immediately.
Family members quickly located Lindsey’s vehicle parked behind the Family Dollar, a place she frequently visited to rummage through trash bins. But when deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered the dumpsters were already empty. They had been cleared early that morning and transported to the Chattooga County transfer station as part of the regular waste collection route.
Sheriff Mark Schrader and Chief Deputy Kevin Woods immediately coordinated with the waste management company to track the truck’s load. Realizing that Lindsey might have been inside one of the containers when it was emptied, they raced to the transfer station to intercept the collected garbage before it was moved again.
At the transfer site, search crews began the grim process of sorting through layers of compacted trash. Using excavators and protective equipment, workers carefully combed through the piles in search of any sign of the missing woman. After several hours of digging, they discovered human remains buried deep within the debris. The body was later confirmed to be that of Kimberley Lindsey.
Investigators believe she may have been inside the dumpster when the garbage truck collected its contents, unaware of her presence. The compaction process likely caused severe injuries, though officials are awaiting autopsy results to determine her exact cause of death. Authorities are considering whether trauma, suffocation, or drug impairment contributed to the tragedy.
Lindsey’s boyfriend told investigators that only a day earlier, he had pulled her out of another dumpster because she was too impaired by prescription medication to climb out on her own. This time, he said, there was no one there to help her. That statement has led investigators to examine whether impairment played a role in her inability to escape before the truck arrived.
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with the coroner and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s medical examiner to piece together a complete picture of what happened. Officials say foul play is not suspected, but the case remains open pending toxicology and autopsy results.
The shocking nature of the accident has deeply unsettled the local community. Many residents have expressed heartbreak and disbelief over the tragedy, noting how a moment of vulnerability turned deadly in such an unimaginable way.
Authorities are urging the public to keep Lindsey’s family in their thoughts during this devastating time. Her death serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of dumpster diving and the importance of safety awareness in areas not meant for human access. May her soul rest in peace.