Remove ads by Supporting Independent News
Written by: A. Smith
Published January 26, 2026 @ 11:45 AM ET
RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. – Police in east Georgia are searching for a man wanted for questioning after a woman was dropped off at a hospital and later pronounced dead, authorities said.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 47-year-old Michael Lee Harrelson in connection with what investigators are calling a “suspicious death” that occurred Monday night, Jan. 19.
According to an incident report obtained by local media, Harrelson drove to Doctors Hospital in Augusta and asked hospital staff for help. A nurse followed him outside to a vehicle, where a woman was found slumped over in the front passenger seat and not breathing. Hospital staff carried the woman inside for emergency care, but Harrelson allegedly fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
Hospital officials later identified the woman as 41-year-old Selena Johnson of Hephzibah, a community about 16 miles south of Augusta. The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said Johnson was identified using fingerprint records and was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m.
An autopsy has been scheduled to determine Johnson’s cause and manner of death. Investigators have not released details about how Harrelson and Johnson knew one another or what events led up to her arrival at the hospital.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Harrelson has active warrants from unrelated cases and is now being sought for questioning related to the death. Authorities stressed that Harrelson has not been charged in connection with this incident at this time.
Harrelson is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 153 pounds, with a bald head and brown eyes.
Anyone who encounters Harrelson or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Investigator Terrance Miller at 706-821-1453, or call an on-duty Violent Crimes investigator with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.