Augusta, GA
‘Wake up’: New details emerge on missing Augusta woman
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re learning new details on a missing Augusta woman who was last seen Wednesday near Diamond Lakes Park, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The missing person report states around 3:50 p.m., deputies were called to investigate the disappearance of 36-year-old Shekema Toran.
Once on scene, deputies met with Toran’s mother, who said Toran’s boyfriend of two months, Biarritz “Danate” Martin, and Toran were at her Hephzibah home.
After an argument started, Martin left the home after Toran’s mother asked him to leave. He returned two hours later to pick Toran up, according to the report.
According to her statement, Toran’s mother has not heard from her daughter since and reports receiving texts that “do not sound like her daughter”.
All of her phone calls to her daughter have also gone unanswered.
The report states that deputies contacted Martin’s roommates, who reported that Martin was at the home Tuesday night, but Toran was not with him.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies made multiple attempts to contact Martin, but there was no answer.
After some time, the report states Martin returned the deputy’s call, who asked to speak with Toran multiple times.
Martin could be heard saying, “Wake up,” and smacking the dash or seat, according to deputies.
This repeated for around 10 minutes before Martin disconnected the call and did not answer on callback.
While deputies continue their search, friends and family were also out looking for Toran on Friday.
“I’m really lost. I don’t know what to do for real,” said Travoun West.
It’s been more than 48 hours since West has heard from his sister.
“We really just want my sister to come home. If anybody knows anything, really just say something for real. Bring my sister home,” said West.

West and other volunteers have been searching to find Toran, looking through the woods, knocking on doors and tracking her pin locations.
“We got to apply a little pressure as the people as the community because where there is a community there are people and we got power so it’s gonna take us to come together collectively to bring this baby home,” said a search volunteer, Ray Montana.
Home for Toran is two hours away from where her phone was last pinned in Atlanta.
But Montana says they will continue searching until they have answers.
“We not gonna rest until we find her and keep applying pressure. Hopefully, Richmond County will find the man,” said Montana.
She’s believed to be in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW1158. They are believed to be heading to the Atlanta area, where the vehicle was last seen Wednesday.
Authorities released a photo of Toran and said she’s 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds.
Deputies also released a photo of Martin and said he’s 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 160 pounds.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.
The family will continue their search Saturday morning, starting at 9 a.m.
To join the search, you can message Ray Montana on Facebook.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Mother’s Day concert brings gospel music to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several artists came together for a Mother’s Day concert Bethel Community Church Family Life Center.
Lucresha Thomas with Psalm 100 Entertainment said the event honors mothers.
“I think that is very important to honor the mothers because there’s some people that don’t have mothers due, the mothers passing away and mothers not being local,” Thomas said. “So this helps bring them together and they’re able to fellowship with other mothers and just be positive, bringing some gospel to the community where they can fellowship together, be blessed and maybe receive a blessing.”
Host Tommy Ingram said groups from across the area participated in the concert.
“We got a live, a lot of groups coming from all over the area to make sure that all the mothers in the area have a good time today,” Ingram said.
Host Adrian Monet said the free concert gives back to the community.
“Well, okay, yeah, a lot of mothers enjoy some good gospel singing. They love gospel concerts,” Monet said. “And this one is a give back, you know, to the community because it’s completely free. And so it’s a chance for people to bring their mothers to enjoy the music that they love so much.”
Erica and Jessica Harris, co-owners of Sophisticated Soul Food, said they wanted to celebrate mothers.
“Okay, we’re out here today for this pre-Mother’s Day event, and we’re just, we just want to give back to the community and celebrate all mothers,” the co-owners said. “And so we’re so excited to be out here. And we have great soul food for everybody that wants to come out.”
Kenneth Medlock, Tyrell Gibson and Gary Durham of The Country Boys, a gospel group from Thomson, said they were honored to participate.
“So we’re just so grateful to be here and honored to be able to stand up and let the world know how good God is through our songs and our praise,” the group said.
Anthony Gallant and Lamont McDowell, members of a gospel group from the Carolinas, said celebrating mothers is important.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s extremely important because mothers work hard throughout the year. They’re very diligent,” Gallant and McDowell said. “And I think at least if you could celebrate them one time, just make them feel special and that the queens that they are, I think it’s important and they’ll feel that love.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident
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Augusta, GA
Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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