Missing Georgia firefighters Chandler Kuhbander and Raegan Anderson, who were former high school sweethearts, were found dead in Cocke County, Tennessee almost a week after they disappeared. The discovery on June 30, 2024 marked the end of a search that spanned multiple states and engaged numerous law enforcement agencies.
The bodies of Kuhbander and Anderson, accompanied by Anderson’s car, were located on Hollow Road in Cosby, Tennessee, about 400 miles from their last known location, according to the Hinesville Police Department. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office are spearheading the investigation into their tragic demise.
Anderson, a devoted member of the Liberty County Fire Services Station #1 in Midway, Georgia, and Kuhbander, a senior firefighter with the same department, were both last sighted on June 24. The former was recorded on surveillance cameras at a gas station, while the latter left a gym in Savannah, Georgia and got into Anderson’s car.
Prior to their disappearance, the pair had shared a rocky relationship that began during their high school years and lasted for seven years. The relationship ended in 2023. Notably, Anderson had been arrested for confronting Kuhbander during his date with a woman at an Olive Garden Restaurant on June 22 and damaging his car. She was charged with second-degree criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.
Chandler’s mother, Jane Kuhbander, voiced her concerns for her son’s safety before their bodies were discovered. She revealed that Anderson had repeatedly threatened to harm herself and suggested that her son might not have been with Anderson voluntarily. “He was telling me she was blowing up his phone, and he said that she had threatened that she was going to commit suicide. And it’s not the first time she’s done it,” she shared.
The firefighters’ bodies were discovered in Anderson’s black 2017 Ford Focus with Georgia license plates. The car had been sighted at various locations, including Savannah and Richmond Hill, Georgia before it was located in Tennessee.
Following the tragic news, the Liberty County Fire Services issued a statement, mourning their fallen colleagues. “They put their hearts and souls into protecting and serving the citizens of Liberty County. Our prayers, and those of the department, are with the families during this most difficult time,” the department posted on Facebook.
An autopsy is planned to ascertain the exact cause and manner of their deaths. The investigation into the circumstances leading to their deaths continues, with law enforcement authorities piecing together their last movements.
The loss of Anderson and Kuhbander has been deeply felt by their community, colleagues, and loved ones. They will be remembered for their dedication as firefighters and their commitment to public service.
