Trevonte Jamal Shubert-Helton
Who Trevonte was
Trevonte Jamal Shubert-Helton was born Oct. 28, 1994, in Topeka, Kansas. He lived in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, and was 29.
His family wrote that he loved waterfalls and watching sunrises and sunsets outdoors. Music was a big part of his life: he liked driving with his favorite songs playing, and he was an avid skateboarder. His obituary says his personality drew people to him.
He's survived by his daughter, Aurora; his fathers, Donald Shubert and John Helton; his stepfather, Eric O'Briant; his grandmother, Freddie Jean Shubert; and his aunt, Crystal Davenport. He was buried at Union Memory Gardens in Blairsville, Georgia.
What happened
On the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2024, a hiker found Trevonte Jamal Shubert-Helton, 29, of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, near a trail by High Shoals Falls in the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area outside Hiawassee. The hiker called Towns County 911.
Because he was found on state land, the Towns County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to lead the case. The GBI identified him the next morning and said early findings pointed to no foul play and that he was alone. His autopsy was done at the GBI Medical Examiner's Office. NewsOne and Atlanta Black Star covered the death in late February, noting the autopsy was still pending.
On March 6, 2024, the GBI said the facts gathered in its investigation showed that Trevonte died by suicide, and that the medical examiner's preliminary findings supported that conclusion. In September 2025, NewsOne listed his death among recent cases that drew public questions and wrote that his family doubts the ruling, though no family member has been quoted publicly. No federal review has been reported, and the case remains closed with the suicide finding.
The case
- Where found
- Near a trail by High Shoals Falls in the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Official finding
- Suicide (GBI, March 6, 2024, citing the GBI Medical Examiner's preliminary findings)
- Time to finding
- 14 days
- Investigation
- A hiker found him on the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2024, and called Towns County 911. At the request of the Towns County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the GBI took the investigation because he was found on state land. The GBI said he was alone at the time of his death. On March 6, 2024, the GBI said the facts gathered show he died by suicide and that the medical examiner's preliminary findings support that conclusion.
- Family position
- No public family statement located. NewsOne (Sept 2025) wrote that his family doubts the ruling and wants a more thorough investigation, but gave no family quote or name.
- Public evidence
- GBI press release and March 6, 2024 update. Autopsy by the GBI Medical Examiner's Office; only preliminary findings were described publicly.
- Federal review
- None reported
- Last verified
- 2026-11-14
Sources
Record history
- Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed updateRecord updated
- Life updated
- Life sources updated
- Oct 21, 2026 · Reviewed updateCase added
- Name: Trevonte Jamal Shubert-Helton
- Age: 29
- Date found: 2024-02-21
- City or county: Hiawassee (Towns County)
- State: GA
- Status: Ruled suicide
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
- Where found: Near a trail by High Shoals Falls in the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Official finding: Suicide (GBI, March 6, 2024, citing the GBI Medical Examiner's preliminary findings)
- Time to finding: 14 days
- Investigation: A hiker found him on the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2024, and called Towns County 911. At the request of the Towns County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the GBI took the investigation because he was found on state land. The GBI said he was alone at the time of his death. On March 6, 2024, the GBI said the facts gathered show he died by suicide and that the medical examiner's preliminary findings support that conclusion.
- Family position: No public family statement located. NewsOne (Sept 2025) wrote that his family doubts the ruling and wants a more thorough investigation, but gave no family quote or name.
- Public evidence: GBI press release and March 6, 2024 update. Autopsy by the GBI Medical Examiner's Office; only preliminary findings were described publicly.
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: The GBI and Atlanta Black Star say a hiker found him and called 911; NewsOne, citing Fox 5, wrote that deputies found him. Atlanta Black Star spells his hometown 'Sautee Natahoochee'; the GBI says Sautee Nacoochee. NewsOne reports family doubt about the ruling without a quote or name; no family statement was located, so status is 'ruled' pending a family source.
- Sources updated