Slain teen’s funeral held as investigation continues

As family members and friends gathered to say goodbye to a Hall County teenager, investigators plowed through dozens of tips in hopes of finding the person responsible for her violent death.

The funeral for Hannah Truelove was held Wednesday morning.

Hannah Truelove, 16, was found Friday night in a wooded area behind the Gainesville apartment complex where she lived with her mother. The Gainesville High School student had been reported missing the previous night.

Investigators have declined to say how Truelove died, but have called the homicide a violent one. A GBI medical examiner conducted the autopsy on Truelove, John Bankhead, the agency’s spokesman, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Gainesville Police Department initially worked a missing persons case, but for less than 24 hours. Truelove’s body was found outside of the city limits, meaning the Hall County Sheriff’s Office took over as the lead investigating agency. A GBI crime scene specialist assisted in the weekend investigation.

Sgt. Kiley Sargent, with the sheriff’s office, has said numerous callers have reported information regarding the case, keeping investigators busy. But so far, no suspects have been named and little details regarding any findings have been released, due to the sensitive nature of the case, police said.

Investigators do not believe the killing was random, and have said Truelove likely knew the person responsible. Truelove’s social media activity, including several recent Tweets, were also being examined, investigators have said.

The funeral for Truelove was set for 11 a.m. today at Timber Ridge Baptist Church in Gainesville. Burial will follow in the church’s cemetary, according to Truelove’s obituary. The teen is survived by her parents, a brother, sister and three grandparents.