THOMASVILLE — Police responded early Tuesday morning to a call about an intoxicated person at a U.S. 19 South motel.  

Thomas County Emergency Services personnel also responded to the 3:14 a.m. call and verified the man reportedly intoxicated was dead, said Police Chief Troy Rich.

The body was at Thomasville Inn at 15211 Highway 19 South.

“We discovered a man laying on the ground in the parking lot,” the chief said.

The Thomasville regional office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was notified.

“It is still under investigation,” Chief Rich said.

An injury by a firearm or knife was not found on the body, the chief said.

The man made contact with residents of the motel prior to police being called, said Lt. Toby Knifer, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander.

The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The 38-year-old man was not a local resident, Knifer said.

Video surveillance of the motel parking lot was to be viewed Monday by detectives

Deputy coroner Charles Jones said the body is being sent to the GBI crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820