2 missing Georgia firefighters found dead in Tennessee

Two Georgia firefighters who disappeared late last month were found dead hundreds of miles away in Tennessee, authorities said.

Raegan Anderson and Chandler Kuhbander were found along with Anderson’s vehicle in Cocke County, Tennessee, police in Hinesville, Georgia, said in a statement on Sunday.

No further details were released. Police referred questions to the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

A sheriff’s office representative said Tuesday afternoon that the TBI is leading the investigation.

“TBI agents, along with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of two people after their bodies were discovered in a vehicle on Hollow Road in Cosby Sunday morning,” the state agency said in a statement Tuesday.

The bodies have been sent for autopsy to positively identify them and determine the cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing, TBI said.

Liberty County Fire Chief Brian Darby said the Midway, Georgia, fire department was deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of two of its firefighters.

“These two extremely dedicated employees have put their hearts and souls into protecting and caring for the citizens of Liberty County,” Darby said in a statement. “Our prayers and those of the department are with the families during this extremely difficult time.”

A representative for the Liberty County Fire Department declined to comment Tuesday afternoon.

Cocke County, Tennessee, is located about 400 miles north of Midway, Georgia.

Last week, Hinesville Police posted information on Facebook about the two missing firefighters. The post included a photo of Anderson’s vehicle, a black 2017 Ford Focus.

Anderson was last seen at Liberty County Fire Station No. 1 on June 25. Authorities suspect Anderson may have been accompanied by Kuhbander, who was also reported missing in Liberty County, NBC affiliate WBIR of Knoxville, Tennessee, reported.

Kuhbander’s vehicle was found in Savannah, Georgia, and Anderson’s vehicle was spotted in Richmond Hill, Georgia, before it was found in Tennessee, the station reported.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.