Police said foul play is suspected after a maintenance worker found the man while checking a possible leak.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County police are investigating a suspicious death after a man’s body was found Thursday morning inside a vacant former Kroger store on Cobb Parkway SE.
The discovery brought homicide detectives to a shuttered grocery building that has been empty for more than a year. Police have not released the man’s name or cause of death. Investigators said foul play is suspected, but they have not announced an arrest or described how the man died.
Officers were called to the former store just after 10 a.m. Thursday after a maintenance worker went inside to check a possible water leak and found the body. The building sits in a shopping center along Cobb Parkway SE, an area where nearby business workers said police activity is not common. Melk Bibi, who manages a BP station across the street, said the news was upsetting. “When I heard that it’s very sad and shocked, very shocking,” Bibi said.
Police said the case is being handled by homicide detectives. Officials have not said how long the man may have been inside the building, whether he had any connection to the property or whether investigators found signs of forced entry. The victim had not been publicly identified as of Monday. The former Kroger closed in 2024, leaving a large empty space in a busy corridor near other businesses and traffic.
The property has drawn calls before. Cobb County 911 records cited by local officials show about half a dozen fire or burglary alarm activations since the store shut down in fall 2024. Police also have been called to the site for minor problems. Bibi said leaving such a large building empty creates concerns for nearby businesses. “To leave it abandoned like that for a long time, I don’t think is a good idea,” he said.
County zoning officials said redevelopment plans have been discussed for the shopping center for years, but no active building permits or land disturbance permits are in place. Bibi said he had heard construction could begin and that nearby businesses were watching the site closely. Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Cobb County Police Department Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.
As of Monday, investigators had not released new details on the man’s identity, the cause of death or any suspect. The next key step is expected to come from police or the medical examiner.
Author note: Last updated May 25, 2026.