As the investigation enters its second month, authorities still have little to report on the slaying of a Cumming man at his deer processing business in middle Georgia.

John Bankhead, director of public affairs for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said investigators have not made any arrests in the Dec. 2 death of Nelson Garner, 60.

Garner's body was found by his brother about 9:30 p.m. that day at Garner's Grinder on Hwy. 16 in Sparta, which is in Hancock County.

Bankhead said the investigation remains “very active,” and the GBI still is seeking information from the public.

“We’ve gotten a few [calls],” he said. “We’re still conducting interviews and following leads.”

Bankhead said the interviews have concentrated mainly on people who knew Garner, which is typical, but investigators urge anyone with information to call the agency’s tip line.

According to Bankhead, the passage of time doesn’t help the investigation.

“Eventually, it’ll be solved,” he said. “But the farther along you go, the chances of it being solved do diminish.”

Bankhead noted that a homicide investigation can take a while, but the GBI never closes one and will assign “new eyes” to review the case periodically.

“But this case is not even close to that yet,” he said.

The cause of death is being withheld due to the investigative value, Bankhead said, though he added "it was obvious" that Garner had been killed.

He had last been seen alive at 4 p.m. that day.

Garner and his brother stayed at and operated the well-known area business during hunting season, Bankhead said.

According to his obituary, Garner was a 50-year member of Cumming Second Baptist Church who loved hunting, fishing and taxidermy.