Mother and son found dead a week after collapsing in yard, authorities say

SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB/Gray News) - Authorities in Georgia say a utilities crew found a mother and son dead a week after they collapsed in their yard.

Sumter County Sheriff Eric Bryant says a 67-year-old man and his 88-year-old mother were found dead Tuesday morning in the yard of their home in the Leslie area of Sumter County.

The sheriff says the man appeared to have been cutting grass with a push mower when he collapsed. Investigators believe his mother may have gone outside to help him before she also collapsed.

The bodies were found by a utilities crew after they had reportedly been in the yard for at least a week.

Bryant says there are no signs of foul play.

The sheriff’s office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Sumter County Coroner’s Office are investigating. Autopsies are underway to determine the victims’ exact causes of death.