It’s hard for most in this region to forget the brutal slaying of mercer law graduate Lauren Giddings.
The details of the case have been broadcast every step of the way. Coroner Leon Jones as he reflects on the discovery of her body one year ago tomorrow.

In a year not much has changed at the downtown apartment homes where the body of Lauren Giddings was found. We spoke with Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones and he reflects on that day. "It was horrible! Late that afternoon, that's when it really hit me. I was on the way home and I just bust out and started crying." adds Jones. When the dismembered body of Lauren Giddings was found in a trash can right next to the home where she lived.

Taking a look at the complex today, you'd never imagine that this was the scene just one year ago.

"This is probably one of the worst crimes that I've seen that has happened in this area. I’m thinking to myself.... How could someone do another human being like that?" says Jones.

Leon Jones has worked all his life as a first responder. He says that this murder has to be among the worst.

"I've seen over ten thousand dead bodies and I can tell you all the ones that made me cry and that's one of them." says Jones.

Jones was not the only one shedding tears. Lauren's family called for an extensive search of the area in hopes to find the remainder of her butchered body without any luck.

The corner adds that in cases like these he has to find ways to cope with the severity of the crimes. “I know whatever I see, God is standing there with me. That was a hard case. Everyone involved in that case should be commended, because that was a hard case." he says.

One month later, in August of 2011, Stephen McDaniel Mark was arrest for the murder of Giddings and is currently waiting for the date until trial.