The gripping story of a missing Fayette County woman came to a partial end Monday afternoon as Fayette County Sheriff's Department officials announced the remains of Beverley Watson had been discovered in a wooded area in south Fulton County.

But while the discovery of Watson's remains closed one chapter, the story still continues as officials try to determine who or what killed Watson and when it occurred.

The story has seem more twists and turns than the Chattahoochee River and what started out as a missing person report evolved into a story that consumed the county and staged the biggest manhunt the county has ever seen.

Watson stormed out of her home in the wee morning hours at 295 Stoneridge Way Jan. 18, 1997 after allegedly having an argument with her husband Jim. Her husband reported her missing the following Monday and said she had left the house without her purse, coat or car keys.

The Sheriff's Department received a tip on the case Jan.21 and spent Jan. 22 combing the shallow, chilly waters of the Flint River next to a Clayton County water plant. The department spent two days combing the river, but came up empty-handed.

One week later, the department searched Anchor Lock and Key, where Jim Watson worked, for possible clues in the disappearance. The department didn't find anything and adamantly stated that Watson was not a suspect in the case.

Watson issued a statement through his attorney, Lee Sexton, asking anyone with information about his wife's whereabouts to contact the sheriff's department.

As the investigation entered its second month, the department conducted a complete investigation of the missing women's assets to see if she had used any funds or credit cards to help her survive.

"If she's out there, she hasn't used a penny of money," said Fayette County Sheriff's Dept. Maj. Bruce Jordan.

The first twist in the case occurred in March, 1997 when Jordan had a press conference dismissing allegations about the case. Jordan cited reports in tow local papers that the missing woman had been stockpiling money before she disappeared.

The department investigated the claims and determined Watson had saved nearly $1,500 and given the money to her mother, Alyce Callaway.

"She gave the money to her mother so she could pay property taxes on her house," Jordan said.

Later in March, the department seized six dictaphone tapes from the Riverdale Police Department for possible information in the case. Jim Watson worked as a part-time police officer and the sheriff's department was investigating all possible angles in the case.

On March 24, more than 300 people crowded into Fayetteville's Heritage Park to wish Beverley Watson an emotional happy 34th birthday.

"We would get together and celebrate our birthdays. This is her 34th. Let's keep her in your heart," said Beverley's friend, Krista Hinkle, who helped organize the event.

During the next few weeks, the department, along with other police agencies from other jurisdictions, scoured sites from Cobb to Clayton County, but could not find any clues in the disappearance. In Jordan's 18 year career in law enforcement, he could not recall a case that was more baffling or frustrating.

"We've had some cases that have lasted a couple of months, but nothing like this," he said.

The case drew state-wide attention in April when Gov. Zell Miller signed an executive order implementing a $1,000 reward for information in the case. Beverley's mother, Alyce Callaway, was happy to see a reward posted.

"Money speaks," she said.

Just two weeks later, the ante was upped to $11,000 when Whitewater Country Club and Delta Air Lines kicked in funds to help find Watson. Before she disappeared, Watson worked at the country club and her father worked at Delta.

In June, the sheriff's department said it had been flooded with calls from area psychics offering help in the case. The department followed up the leads, but found nothing.

In July, the antagonism between Jim Watson and the sheriff's department reached a peak when Watson prepared to file a civil lawsuit against the department. Watson claimed he was stopped by the department July 2 on Jeff Davis Drive and had his car searched for no reason.

Watson's attorney, Lee Sexton, said the incident represented the latest example of harassment of his client by the sheriff's office.

"I've been quiet since this started, but I'm not going to be quiet anymore. Maj. Bruce Jordan is totally out of control," Watson said.

One of the more bizarre twists in the case occurred in July when Beverley's mother, Alyce Callaway, admitted discussing putting out a contract to kill Jim Watson.

On July 10, Callaway was sitting in the Riverdale Waffle House when a man approached her and said he could take Watson out of the picture.

"She was not thinking clearly and gave him an address," said Beverley's brother, Scott Bennett.

Bennett immediately called Jordan about the incident and no charges were filed after Watson contacted the Clayton County District Attorney's office. Beverley's brother dismissed any notion that there was a serious plot to kill Watson, but admitted it's something several people have considered because of their angry state.

In Sept. Watson filed his lawsuit against the department and cited a "continuing campaign of harassment and intimidation" against him by Jordan. In another twist, Lt. Joe Wynn of the sheriff's department was relieved of his job after giving a deposition to Watson's attorney, Lee Sexton.

Wynn told Sexton he was ordered by Jordan to make a traffic stop and search of Watson's vehicle.

One of the more emotional moments during the search was when Watson's daughter, Ashley, broke her silence on the matter and lashed out at the media characterizations of her father.

Ashley dispelled rumors that Beverley was the victim of abuse by her husband.

"I never saw any physical abuse. They argued like every other married couple, but's that all I saw. Other people have said there was abuse, but I live in the house and I know what I saw," she said.

On the one-year anniversary of her disappearance, friends and families passed out 1,500 leaflets and tied more yellow ribbons on trees to keep Watson's disappearance in the public's eye.

One of the more stunning developments in the case occurred in Feb., 1998, when two witnesses claimed they saw Watson two days after her disappearance.

Watson's attorney, Lee Sexton, said the witnesses saw Watson in a Peachtree City store. The witnesses said watson said he needed to change the color of her hair and asked the witnesses to help her out.

Sexton claimed the witnesses went to the Fayette County Sheriff's Department with the information, but were never questioned.

Sheriff Randall Johnson disputed Sexton's claim and said the department had investigated every lead.

On March 24, 1998, nearly 60 people gathered at the Fayette County Courthouse to honor Watson by planting a willow oak to commemorate her 35th birthday. The group also erected a plaque in Watson's honor.

In January of this year, another crowd gathered to hold a vigil to mark the second anniversary of Watson's disappearance. The crowd left the Fayette County Courthouse and went to Watson's house and left their lighted candles in the driveway.