Missing Woman Kristi Cornwell's Cell Phone Found

Blairsville police said they found 38-year-old Kristi Cowell's cell phone in a yard three-miles away from where police believe she was abducted.

Investigators said the discovery of Cowell's cell phone gives the police a new area to concentrate their search efforts.

"A citizen was mowing his grass and found the cell phone on the side of the road," said GBI Director Veon Keenan.

Friday afteoon, police brought out bloodhounds to pick up the scent of the missing woman.

Cowell was last seen walking along a north Georgia road and talking to her boyfriend. Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said the boyfriend heard a "struggle" and called 911.

"We know now from the cell phone having been found that the person or persons involved in this incident, passed by this way," said Keenan.

Authorities are also looking for two vehicles that may be linked to the disappearance of Cowell -- a white suburban sized SUV and a tan or gold Toyota or Nissan sub-compact.

Police have shut down a stretch of highway on 325 until moing when they plan on renewing their search.

"We will seal off this area tonight with law enforcement and we'll come in tomorrow and do a concentrated search of this area with search dogs and law enforcement officers trained in search techniques," said Keenan.

Police said this was the lead they were looking for.